Phaenocora agassizi Graff, 1911

Houben, Albrecht M., Steenkiste, Niels Van & Artois, Tom J., 2014, Revision of Phaenocora Ehrenberg, 1836 (Rhabditophora, Typhloplanidae, Phaenocorinae) with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 3889 (3), pp. 301-354 : 347

Phaenocora agassizi Graff, 1911

Phaenocora agassizi Graff 1911: 52 –53, plate 4 Fig. 1–6 ; Graff 1913: 134, 141–142, Figs 142, 143, 143a; Stummer-Traunfels & Meixner 1930 (and references therein): 3405; Gilbert 1935: 284, 287–288, 293, 295, 297, 314, 339, 347–348, 352, 355, TextFig. 3L, tables 1–2; Ruebush 1939: 53; Marcus 1946: 91.

Phoenocora agassizi (incorrect subsequent spelling) Cognetti de Martiis 1916: 201.

Known distribution: Rochester (New York, USA), pond at the east wide waters ( Graff 1911; Graff 1913).

According to Graff’s (1911) description of live animals, P. agasizzi is 1.5 to 2 mm long and has dermal and adenal rhabdites. The eyes are reddish to light yellow under reflective light. The male copulatory organ bears spines and probably is of the duplex-type IB. The female structures are not clearly described. Because of this, Gilbert (1935) considered the female system of P. agassizi to belong to a type of its own, a contestable decision considering the lack of knowledge as to the detailed construction of this system. Indeed, Graff (1911) mentioned that the vitelloduct opens into the atrium, a situation that would be unique within the genus Phaenocora . It is possible that Graff (1911) interpreted the glands of the pear-shaped appendages as the openings of the vitelloducts. The only certainty is that the oviduct opens near the genital atrium. Although Graff (1911) mentioned the atrium to be split into two, he made no distinction between an inferior and superior part. Therefore we can only assume the reproductive structures to open into the superior genital atrium as in all other species of Phaenocora .

Carter (1929) also mentioned P. agassizi , however, according to Gilbert (1935: 339) this record refers to P. virginiana .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of live animals A, P. evelinae. B, P. foliacea from South Africa. C, P. foliacea from India. D, P. aglobulata sp. nov.. E – H, P. gilberti sp. nov.: E – F, pigmentation of the head. G, male copulatory organ. H, female genital canal.