Morphology data of Pycnogonum litorale
Identification keys
Main Ref. King, P.E., 1973
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 Proboscis: Attached relatively large animals such as actinians or sponges. Cuticle (covering the proboscis): May be smooth, partly, or wholly covered with tubercles. Proboscis (tip): Small and buld-like, once inserted in the host tissues they close round it and help to anchor the mouth in position to maintain suction. Mouth at the tip of the proboscis: triadiate structure which usually has three lip-lobes with a number of small tubercles (Ref. 12). Feeding on hosts: hydroid Tealia crassicornis, by suction and rasping of jaws,Lucernaria, Cucumaria frondosa, Metridiumdianthus and Metridium senile (Ref. 233, 229); polyzoans rotting edges of Flustra foliaces (Ref. 234); Milne-Edwardsia loweni, Tealia crassicornis, Lucernaria, Cucumaria frondosa, Metridium dianthus, Metridium senile, and Cynthia. Method of feeding: insertion of proboscis into tissues of the host (Ref. 233, 229). Association with other animals: Clava multicornis, Actinia, Tealia, Metridium,and Alcyonarium digitatum (Ref. 213); polyzoan Flustra foliacea (Ref. 12). Development site of larval associations: Clava multicornis with proboscis inserted (Ref. 213). Reproduction system: ova ripen in the trunk part of the ovary. Life cycle: male rests for a long period on the back of the female with their genital orifices touching. These orifices are situated on the ventral surface of the second coxa of the last pair of legs in the male and on the dorsal aspect of the same leg and segment in the female. When eggs are released they forma single extensive ball in this species with both ovigerous legs embedded in it (Ref. 12).
Ease of Identification

Meristic characteristics of Pycnogonum litorale

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   
Ref. [ e.g. 3742]
Glossary [ e.g. cnidaria]
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