Morphology data of Phascolosoma agassizii
Identification keys
Main Ref. Morozov, T.B. and A.V. Adrianov, 2002
Appearance refers to

Sex attributes

specialized organs
different appearance
different colors
remarks

Descriptive characteristics of juvenile and adult

Striking features
Body shape lateral
Cross section
Dorsal head profile
Type of eyes
Type of mouth/snout
Position of mouth
Diagnosis Comparatively large animals of grayish yellow color. Body cylindrical. Trunk region 0.4 - 4 cm long. Introvert almost as long as trunk region. Entire body surface densely set with large (0.06 - 0.08 cm) dome-shaped black papillae. Papillae especially numerous on terminal and anal shields. Cephalon bear-ing crown of 21-29 tentacles in horseshoe-like arrangement around heart-shaped nuchal organ. Behind cephalon, introvert bearing specialized cuticular appendages (scalids), arranged into 15-30 circles. Two ventral and two dorsal retractors of introvert. Ventral retractors anchored in posterior third of trunk. Contractile vessel simple, with no lateral branches. Intestine with 10-18 loops, in dependence on animal size. Longitudinal musculature of body wall divided into pronounced, isolated longitudinal bands. Spindle-shaped muscle fastened at terminal end of trunk; 1-3 fixing muscles. Anus located somewhat in front of or level with nephrophores. Wing muscles well-developed. Rectal diverticulum absent. 2 nephridia fastened to body wall along 1/3 of their length via thin mesenterial filaments. Nephridiums 30 - 50 percentage as long as trunk (Ref. 1815).
Ease of Identification likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Phascolosoma agassizii

Lateral Lines Interrupted: No
Scales on lateral line
Pored lateral line scales
Scales in lateral series
Scale rows above lateral line
Scale rows below lateral line
Scales around caudal peduncle
Barbels
Gill clefts (sharks/rays only)
Gill rakers
on lower limb
on upper limb
total
Vertebrae
preanal
total

Fins

Dorsal fin(s)

Attributes
Fins number
Finlets No. Dorsal   
Ventral  
Spines total
Soft-rays total
Adipose fin

Caudal fin

Attributes

Anal fin(s)

Fins number
Spines total
Soft-rays total

Paired fins

Pectoral Attributes  
spines     
soft-rays   
Pelvics Attributes  
Position    
spines     
soft-rays   
Main Ref. (e.g. 9948)
Glossary (e.g. cnidaria)
Comments & Corrections
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