External morphology and anatomy of Pseudunela marteli is the same as in Pseudunela viatoris with the following exceptions:[2] Colour of digestive gland is greenish or orange-brownish.[2] Eyes (30–35μm) are pigmented and well visible externally.[2] Foot length is up to half of the visceral hump.[2] Subepidermal spicules are more abundant in cephalic tentacles, foot and visceral hump.[2]
digestive system: the radula formula is 57–59×1.1.?; rhachidian tooth with 3–4 denticles per side.[2]
reproductive system: the hollow curved penial stylet measures 130μm in length, the stylet of basal finger is 30μm long.[2] The ampulla is sac-like; allosperm receptacles are absent in the examined specimen.[2] The albumen and mucous glands are tubular; the membrane gland is sac-like.[2]
Photo of a dorsal view of a live Pseudunela marteli. Body size is 3mm. lt – labial tentacle, rh – rhinophore, ey – eye, hb – heart bulb, f – foot, vh – visceral hump.
Ecology
Pseudunela marteli is a minute species that lives in the spaces between sand grains in saltwater habitats, and it is thus considered to be a mesopsammic, marine interstitial animal that is part of the meiofauna of marine sands.[2]
References
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