Morphology data of Thysanocardia nigra
Identification keys
Main Ref. Morozov, T.B. and A.V. Adrianov, 2002
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 Large animals, grayish-yellow, dark yellow, or gray in color. Trunk of adult specimens 2- 6 cm long, elongated and spindle-shaped. Introvert 1.5-2 times longer than trunk. Surface of trunk smoothseeming, as papillae covering it small. Papillae pyriform or finger-shaped. Tentacular apparatus obviously subdivided into dorsal crown surrounding nuchal organ and crown of perioral tentacles. Dorsal crown consisting of 19-30 tentacles. Tentacles of perioral crown arranged into pronounced parallel festoons running along cephalon. In each festoon, pair of anterior tentacles closest to mouth opening with common basal fold encircling bases of tentacles. In large specimens, sometimes up to 20-30 festoons, each bearing two rows of 12-20 tentacles. Violet or yellow circles visible around apical ends of tentacles. Longitudinal musculature of body wall solid, not divided into longitudinal bands. Two retractors of introvert, both ventral, fastened in posterior third of body, close to ventral nerve cord. Contractile vessel of complicated structure, covered with finger-shaped tubercles of orange or yellow color. Gut long, number of intestinal loops 18- 54. Two fixing muscles fastening upper regions of ascending and descending loops of intestine. Anal opening located level with nephridiopores. No rectal diverticulum found. Two nephridia, free, not fastened to body wall, length about 30 percent of body length.
Ease of Identification likely to be confused with closely related species.

Meristic characteristics of Thysanocardia nigra

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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