Journal of Entomology and Zoology, Vol. 11, No. 2, June 1919Various
Science
Journal of Entomology and Zoology, Vol. 11, No. 2, June 1919
Various
Entomology -- California -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; Zoology -- California -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals
The trunk contains the alimentary canal, dorsal and ventral blood
vessels, dorsal and ventral nerves, the gill-slits, the reproductive
bodies, dorsal and ventral mesenteries and muscle bands.
The nervous system consists of three parts: the central, located in
the collar region, Fig. 5; the sub-epidermic network extending over
the entire body just under the surface epithelium, Figs. 1-7; and the
dorsal and ventral strands which are thickenings of the sub-epidermic
network extending throughout the trunk, Figs. 1 and 7. There is also
quite a decided thickening of the sub-epidermic network at the base of
the proboscis, Figs. 5, 6.
The vascular system consists of two parts, the central and the
peripheral. The central is made up of the heart, a thin-walled vesicle
at the base of the proboscis just dorsal to the notochord, and
connected with it the proboscis gland, a plexus of capillaries just
anterior to the notochord. Fig. 5. The peripheral system is composed
of a ventral and a dorsal vessel. The dorsal starts at the heart and
continues just ventral of the dorsal nerve throughout the length of
the body. Figs. 1, 5, 7. The ventral vessel extends from the posterior
border of the collar to the anal end. It is connected with the dorsal
vessel by a circular vessel in the posterior edge of the collar.
The mouth is situated ventrally at the base of the proboscis, within
the collar, and opens directly into the straight alimentary canal.
The latter is a straight tube extending from the mouth opening to the
anus. Figs. 5, 1, 7, 9.
The alimentary canal in the anterior part of the collar gives off a
diverticulum, which grows forward and supports the proboscis. Because
this diverticulum has the vacuolated appearance of the notochordal
tissue of higher animals, it has been regarded as a notochord. It is
largest at the base of the proboscis immediately anterior to the
heart. Figs. 5, 6.
The paired gill-slits occupy the region just posterior to the collar.
They are arranged in two longitudinal grooves in the dorsal wall. The
number increases throughout life, new slits appearing just behind
those already in place. I found about twenty-five to be the average
number, while particular individuals had as low as eighteen and twenty
and as high as thirty and thirty-one. The gills are formed in the
shape of a U. A skeletal rod or gill bar separates the gills from each
other. The gills are supplied with blood from the dorsal vessel. Figs.
3, 7, 8.
The sexes are distinct. The ovaries and testes are saccular organs
arranged in a row along the gill and succeeding region. The sacs in
other genera, for example Balanoglossus as described by Shipley, open
directly on to the epidermis. I have been unable to see these openings
in my preparations. Fig. 8 shows the position of the ovaries in the
female; the testes in the male are in a similar location.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account