Cranifera cranifera

Cranifera cranifera (Chitwood, 1932)

Fig. 5 A–F, Fig. 6 A–E

Leidynema cranifera Chitwood, 1932: 32–34, figs. 22–26

Material examined. Vouchers: 15 adult females; Cuba, La Habana province, Marianao municipality, Alturas de La Salle; in Blaberus discoidalis; 25/ VI /2018; L. Véliz coll.; CZACC 11.7232 –11.7246.

Redescription

Female. Body comparatively robust, fusiform, widening gradually posterior to base of first cephalic annule, reaching its maximum width at level of vulva, then narrowing gradually towards anus. Cervical cuticle unarmed, markedly annulated from base of first cephalic annule to ca. level of the second third of the corpus (annuli length of 3–7 µm). Lateral alae absent. Oral aperture located in a depression in the center of head, circular, diameter of ca. 4 µm. Head bearing eight paired labiopapillae arranged as two sub-dorsal pairs and two sub-ventral pairs. Labiopapillae trapezoid-like, with the shortest parallel side in internal margin of head and delimitated by ridges that extend from external margin to internal margin of head. Each ridge presenting a wide groove in its distal end. Amphids lateral, pore-like, barely conspicuous, located at midpoint between the internal and external margins of head. First cephalic annule with rounded margins, ca. 0.5 head-length long and ca. 1.3 times its diameter. First cephalic annule set-off from head by a deep constriction, with the cuticle notably wrinkled. Stoma short, ca. twice as long as first cephalic annule. Oesophagus consisting of a muscular corpus divided in a cylindrical anterior half (ca. two-thirds of the corpus length) and a wider, sub-cylindrical posterior half, well differentiated from the short, cylindrical isthmus. Basal bulb rounded, valve-plate well-developed. Intestine simple, sub-rectilinear, fore region slightly dilated, surrounding base of basal bulb. Rectum comparatively short. Anus not prominent. Nerve ring encircling corpus at ca. 47% of its length. Excretory pore ventral, located at ca. 1.5 body-widths posterior to basal bulb. Vulva a median transverse slit ca. 60 µm in length, its lips prominent, located near midbody. Vagina muscular, forwardly directed. Genital tract didelphic-prodelphic, both ovaries reflexed near level of excretory pore. Oocytes in single rows. Eggs numerous, ellipsoidal, with one side flat, smooth-shelled. Tail long, subulate, slightly filiform, ending in a fine tip. Phasmids pore-like located at ca. 80 µm posterior to the level of the anus.

Male. Not found.