Linta WESTERGREN & SIDDALL 2004, new genus

Linta, new genus Figures 1–8

DESCRIPTION: Body cylindrical, vermiform (fig. 1). Anterior somites with five pairs of eyespots arranged in parabolic arc (figs. 2, 3). Eyes dorsal on II and III (fig. 2), lateral on IV, V, and VI (fig. 3). Pharynx terminating in XIV with three myognaths (muscular jaws) separated by triangular paragnaths (fig. 4); each myognath with a pair of stylets parallel to body axis (fig. 4). Male and female gonopores ventral in XII and XIII (fig. 5). Accessory copulatory pits absent. Ovarian tissue consisting of ovisacs and oviducts, paired, caecate, without common oviduct (fig. 6). Male median reproductive apparatus large with pair of atrial horns directed posteriolaterally (fig. 7); ‘‘prostate’’ glandular tissue situated anterior at junction of atria (figs. 6, 7). Spermducts thick, in loose coil from atria to XV (fig. 7). Testisacs paired, arranged interganglionically in paramedial rows of six (fig. 8); first group at XV/XVI.

TYPE SPECIES: Linta be, n.sp.

ETYMOLOGY: ‘‘ Linta ’’ is a Malagasy word in the Antanosy dialect for ‘‘leech’’, commonly used for the aquatic as opposed to the terrestrial varieties (limatika); originally from the Indonesian lintah for leech.