| Diagnosis |
The species is relatively large, has an oblong external reproductive sac; mean length measures 2.3 mm; sac ranges from pink to colorless, ovary attached to sac wall opposite pedicel; remainder of mantle cavity comprises of the brood cavity, connected to the exterior by the mesenteric canal running opposite the pedicel between the sac wall and ovary; mesenteric canal opens to the exterior obliquely opposite to the pedicel; external sac attached to host body, usually to the visceral mass of the host by the short pedicel; pedicel base surrounded by circular, amber-colored, cuticular shield bearing cocentric annulations; alimentary root system ranges from orange to bright red, circular plaque, 3-5 mm in diameter, extending within the host from pedicel outward in dendritic fashion; invasion root tissue consisting of highly vacuolated cells with darkly staining nuclei; unhatched cyprid larvae frequently found in abundance in brood cavity; cyorids possess pair of antennules, but no other appendages; mean cyprid length measures 88.9 micrometer. |