Clay M. Chandler

External Morphology of Larvae of Chordodes morgani (Nematomorpha)

The surface features of larvae of a gordian worm, Chordodes morgani (Gordioidea), studied by scanning electron microscopy, were compared to those of other larval nematomorphs, until now known only from light microscopical studies. Larvae of C. morgani have a cylindrical body with 22 to 24 superficial segments, superficially divided at an ectodermal septum into a presoma and a trunk with a roughly 90? bend. Papillae are located distally on the proboscis, the base of which is surrounded by circles of spines or scales. Although the major features of the larvae are similar to those known in other species, details visible with SEM hold promise for providing useful diagnostic characters. Additional key words: horsehair worm, gordian worm Several electron microscropical studies have described adult features of gordian worms (e.g., Zapotosky 1971; Eakin & Brandenburger 1974; Chandler & Wells 1989) and others have treated the ultrastructure of larval forms (e.g., Zapotosky 1974, 1975). Less attention has been given to external features of larval forms (e.g., see Hyman 1951; Poinar & Doelman 1974), and such studies to date have been based on light microscopy. Our objective was to examine, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the external morphology of larvae of Chordodes morgani in order to document features that might be used as diagnostic characters, and to better understand their biology. Descriptions of adults of Chordodes morgani MONTGOMERY 1898 were augmented and C. morgani synonymized with C. puerilis MONTGOMERY 1898 by Montgomery (1901). Camerano (1915), in his revised monograph on gordian worms, published important diagnostic features characteristic of adults of C. morgani. Chandler (1985) reviewed the taxonomy and distribution of this species in North America.

Further Field Studies on Freshwater Planarians of Tennessee (Turbellaria: Tricladida): III. Western Tennessee

ABSTRACT A field survey was conducted principally during the summers of 1980 through 1982 in all 39 counties and both physiographic provinces of middle Tennessee. Eight species of planarians, representing four families, were found in 26 counties and at 124 sites: 60 in the Central Basin province and 64 in the Highland Rim province. Dugesia tigrina occurred at more sites (31) than any other species and was most often in the Central Basin. Dugesia dorotocephala and Curs foremanii were found in 26 and 19 sites, respectively, and were about equally distributed between the two provinces. Phagocata gracilis occurred at 18 sites, and more of these sites (16) were in the Highland Rim. Of 16 sites for Phaocata morgani, one-half were springs located mostly in the Highland Rim. Phagocata velata occupied 10 sites, all in the Central Basin. New records for Procotyla fluviatilis were established at two sites in the Highland Rim. Sphalloplana chandleri, a cave planarian, occurred at two sites, one in each province. Tric...

A Record of the Horsehair Worm Chordodes morgani (Nematomorpha) in Wisconsin

ABSTRACT The horsehair worm Chordodes morgani Montgomery is reported from Shawano County, Wisconsin. This is the first record for this species in Wisconsin. This report fills a gap in the known distribution.

Leeches (Hirudinea) in the upper Stones River drainage of Middle Tennessee

Leeches were collected from September 1972 through November 1973 from 68 sites, and measurements were made of water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. Eight species were collected representing four families: Erpobdellidae, Glossiphoniidae, Hirudinidae and Piscicolidae. Placobdella ornata was the most widely distributed and eurytopic species, and contrary to previous reports of its principal occurrence on turtles, 98% of the specimens were free-living. Placobdella parasitica was the most abundant species, and 89% were attached tol the turtles Chelydra serpentina and Pseudemys scripta. Haemopis marmorata exhibited stenotopic characteristics and was the only species not associated with any other species. Illinobdella moorei occurred mainly on the bass species, Micropterus dolomieui and M. salmoides, but it was also found on Etheostoma squamiceps and Notropis cornutus, which are new host records. Erpobdella punctata, Haemopis marmorata, Helobdella elongata and Placobdella ornata are new records for Tennessee. Helobdella lineata occurred at four sites, and Illinobdella alba at only one site. INTRODUCTION The Hirudinea constitute a significant part of the North American fresh-water fauna, but apart from the study of Louisiana leeches by Sawyer (1967), they have received only scant attention in the southeastern U.S.A. No study has been published previously which dealt exclusively with leeches of Tennessee, but the literature does record six species from the state: Haemopis terrestris (Moore, 1898), Helobdella lineata (Sawyer, 1972), Illinobdella alba, I. moorei, I. richardsoni (Bangham and Venard, 1942; Meyer, 1946) and Placobdella parasitica (Moore, 1898; Sawyer, 1972). A preliminary search for leeches in the Stones River drainage of Middle Tennessee yielded two previously unreported species from the state. The objectives of the present study were to identify the leech species and their distribution in the upper drainage of Stones River, to make some ecological observations, and to establish a base for future studies on Tennessee leeches. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA The Stones River basin ig located in the N-central portion of the Nashville or Central Basin, a physiographic province of Middle Tennessee that presents a gently undulating plain ranging in altitude from 152 to 213 m and that is developed on soluble Ordovician limestone (Bassler, 1932). Stones River and its tributaries receive drainage from five counties: Cannon, Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson.

A Survey of the Epigean Planarians (Turbellaria: Tricladida: Paludicola) of Alabama

ABSTRACT Streams, springs, lakes and ponds were investigated for planarians at 116 sites in 44 counties and among all five physiographic provinces of Alabama from 23 Jul to 4 Aug 1988 and from 15 to 27 Jul 1990. Planarians were found at 54 sites representing 27 counties and all physiographic provinces. Five species and one undetermined species of Dugesia were found. Dugesia tigrina inhabited more sites, 24, than any other species and was in all provinces. Dugesia dorotocephala occurred at 13 sites, with most of these in the Valley and Ridge province and none in the East Gulf Coastal Plain. Cura foremnii was at 10 sites, with most of these in the Valley and Ridge and none in the Highland Rim. Phagocata morgani morgani was collected at eight sites, and although not found in the Highland Rim and Piedmont Plateau, its occurrence in the East Gulf Coastal Plain extends its known range in the southeastern United States. Phagocata qracilis was at four sites, all associated with springs in the Highland Rim. The Cu...

A Record of the Horsehair Worm Neochordodes occidentalis (Nematomorpha) in the State of Washington

ABSTRACT The horsehair worm Neochordodes occidentalis (Montgomery) is reported from Whitman County, Washington. This is the first record of the phylum Nematomorpha in the state of Washington.