Phaenocora cucurbitina Beklemischev, 1918

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 : 335

Phaenocora cucurbitina Beklemischev, 1918

(Figs 11F1–F2)

Phaenocora cucurbitina Beklemischev 1918: 49 –50, 74–75, Figs 6–7; Stummer-Traunfels & Meixner 1930: 3392; Gilbert 1935: 285; Marcus 1946: 72.

Known distribution: Vameljoki near Saint Petersburg ( Russia) ( Beklemischev 1918).

Material examined: None.

Diagnosis: Animals about 3 mm long, with reddish-brown eyes. Head with a reddish colour and a branched pigmentation pattern, which also appears reddish-brown. Zoochlorellae not mentioned in literature. Male copulatory organ of the duplex-type IB, its spines having the appearance of melon seeds. Female genital system not very well known, although it is clear that a female genital canal, a genito-bursal duct and an intestinal bursa are present; hence either of the UNIPUNCTATA - type or the AGLOBULATA - type.

Remark: The female genital structures of this species are not satisfactorily described. Beklemischev’s (1918) figure 6 clearly shows the presence of a female genital canal, genito-bursal duct and intestinal duct (also Fig. 11F1). The presence or absence of a burso-intestinal duct is not specifically mentioned ( Beklemischev 1918).