Talanema mauritiense
Williams, 1959
Syn.: Labronema mauritiense Williams, 1959
Photo Gallery- Konza Prairie

1.4 mm; a = 21; b = 4.1; c = 47; V = 60
1.4 mm; a = 22; b = 4.1; c = 64; T = 64
Body practically straight.  Lip region set off by deep constriction, the lips distinctly angular.  Spear 18-20u long with aperture 1/2 its length.  Guiding ring double, 1/3 head width.  Esophagus enlarged near middle by abrupt expansion. Cardia discoid, then conoid, about half as long as body width.  Intestinal cells packed with fine, light brown granules.  Prerectum length twice body diameter. Vulva transverse with unusual shaped labia as illustrated.  Eggs fill body cavity, twice as long as wide.  Ovaries reflexed half-way to vulva.  Uteri forming spermatheca which are packed with spermatozoa.

Male similar to female with slightly arcuate tail.  Supplements low, flat, adjacent, 16-23 in number.  Spicula 53u long with strong ventral angle.  Lateral guiding pieces about 20u long, irregular in contour.

Labronema mauritiense is immediately distinguished by its smaller size, shape of spear, transverse vulva and type and arrangement of supplements.  There are slight variations between these specimens and those described by Williams from Mauritius, but considering the geographical separation there is a remarkable similarity.

Including this species in Labronema is questionable because of the aberrant form of the vulva.

Habitat:  Corn field near Fairmont, Nebraska and alfalfa field near Forestburg, South Dakota.
(Description- Thorne, 1974)

DNA Sequences Obtained
Specimen: Collected:
KonzaV AA-20 Konza Prairie, First Survey