Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An ultrastructural investigation of Hrabeiella Pižl & Chalupský, 1984 (Annelida). I. Chaetae and body wall organization

  • Histology and ultrastructure
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Specimens of Hrabeiella sp., collected for the first time in Italy (Tuscany), were investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Chaetae conform with previous descriptions in light microscopy, but appear considerably different in electron microscopy, as they show an unusual brush-like pattern. The first TEM analysis of the body wall layers was undertaken. The cuticle ultrastructure is similar to that found generally in very small-sized annelids, in that a coarse collagenous grid is absent, but it is peculiar for the paucity of ascending microvilli. Three different types of secretory cells are distinguishable in most of the 12 epidermal glandular blocks occurring around the body circumference. Such blocks regularly alternate with as many muscle fields, each containing four longitudinal fibres. A subepidermal layer of circular muscles is present. The somatopleure is cellular and complete.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bouligand, Y., 1967. Les soies et les cellules associées chez deux Annélides Polychètes. Z. Zellforsch. 79: 332–363.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, J. M., 1974. An ultrastructural analysis of the cuticle, epidermis and esophageal epithelium of Eisenia foetida (Oligochaeta). J. Morph. 142: 301–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckelbarger, K. J. & F.-S. Chia, 1978. Morphogenesis of larval cuticle in the polychaete Phragmatopupa lapidosa: A correlated scanning and transmission electron microscopic study from egg envelope formation to larval metamorphosis. Cell Tissue Res. 186: 187–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fransen, M. E., 1980. Ultrastructure of coelomic organization in Annelids. I. Archiannelids and other small polychaetes. Zoomorphologie 95: 235–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fransen, M. E., 1988. Coelomic and vascular systems. In: W. Westheide & C. O. Hermans (eds), The Ultrastructure of Polychaeta. Microfauna marina 4: 199–213.

  • Goodman, D. & W. B. Parrish, 1971. Ultrastructure of the epidermis in the ice-worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus. J. Morph. 135: 71–86.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graefe, U., 1989. Der Einfluss von sauren Niederschlägen und Bestandeskalkungen auf die Enchytraeidenfauna in Waldböden. Verb. Ges. Ökol. 17: 597–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graefe, U., 1990. Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Kompensationskalkung und Bodenbearbeitung auf die Zersetzerfauna in einem bodensauren Buchenwald- und Fichtenforst-Ökosystem. In: J. Gehrmann (ed.), Umweltkontrolle am Waldökosystem. Forschung und Beratung, Reihe C, Münster 48: 232–241.

  • Graefe, U., 1993a. Die Gliederung von Zersetzergesellschaften für die standortsbkologische Ansprache. Mittl. Dtsch. Bodenkundl. Ges. 69: 95–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graefe, U., 1993b. Veränderungen der Zersetzergesellschaften im Immissionsbereich eines Zementwerkes. Mittl. Dtsch. Bodenkundl. Ges. 72: 531–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Healy, B. & E. Rota, 1992. Methods for collecting enchytraeids during expeditions. Soil Biol. Biochem. 24: 1279–1281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jans, W. & J. Römbke, 1989. Funde eines terrestrischen Polychaeten (Annelida) in Wäldern Baden-Württembergs. Carolinea 47: 158–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamovsky, M. J., 1965. A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolarity for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell. Biol. 27: 137A–138A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knöllner, F., 1934. Die Tiere des Kostengrundwassers bei Schilksee (Kieler Bucht). 5. Stygocapitella subterranea nov. gen. nov. spec. Schr. naturwiss. Ver. Schleswig-Holstein 20: 468–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristensen, R. M. & A. Nørrevang, 1982. Description of Psammodrilus aedificator sp. n. (Polychaeta), with notes on the arctic interstitial fauna of Disko Island, W. Greenland. Zool. Scr. 11: 265–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanzavecchia, G., R. Valvassori & M. de Eguileor, 1986. Helical muscles from Bjorn Afzelius to the present state. In: M. Cresti & R. Dallai (eds), Biology of Reproduction and Cell Motility in Plants and Animals. University of Siena, Siena: 119–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanzavecchia, G., M. de Eguileor & R. Valvassori, 1988. Muscles. In: W. Westheide & C. O. Hermans (eds), The Ultrastructure of Polychaeta, Microfauna marina 4: 71–88.

  • O'Clair, R. M. & R. A. Cloney, 1974. Patterns of morphogenesis mediated by dynamic microvilli: chaetogenesis in Nereis vexillosa. Cell. Tiss. Res. 151: 141–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, F. B., 1955. Extraction of enchytraeid worms from a coniferous forest soil. Nature 175: 815–816.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pižl, V. & J. Chalupský, 1984. Hrabeiella periglandulata gen. et sp. n. (Annelida) — a curious worm from Czechoslovakia. Vest. cs. Spolec. zool. 48: 291–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postwald, H. E., 1971. A fine ultrastructural analysis of the epidermis and cuticle of the oligochaete Aeolosoma bengalense Stephenson. J. Morph. 135: 185–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reisinger, E., 1925. Ein landbewohnender Archiannelide. Zugleich ein Beitrag zur Systematik der Archianneliden. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 13: 197–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reisinger, E., 1960. Die Lösung des Parergodrilus—Problems. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 48: 517–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, K. S., 1978. Epidermis and cuticle. In P. J. Mill (ed), Physiology of Annelids. Academic Press, London: 33–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, R. M. & G. E. Rieger, 1976. Fine structure of the archiannelid cuticle and remarks on the evolution of the cuticle within the Spiralia. Acta zool. 57: 53–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rota, E., 1994. Enchytraeidae (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of the Mediterranean region: a taxonomic and biogeographic study. Unpubl. Ph.D. Thesis. The National University of Ireland, 255 pp.

  • Rota, E., 1995. Italian Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta). I. Boll. Zool. 62(2): 183–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, O., 1857. Zur Kenntnis der Turbellaria Rhabdocoela und einiger anderer Würmer des Mittelmeeres. Sitzber. Akad. Wiss. Wien 23: 347–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Specht, A., 1988. Chaetae. In: W. Westheide & C. O. Hermans (eds), The Ultrastructure of Polychaeta, Microfauna marina 4: 45–49.

  • Valvassori, R., M. de Eguileor, G. Lanzavecchia & G. Scarì, 1989. Body wall organization in enchytraeids. Hydrobiologia 180: 83–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westheide, W., 1985. The systematic position of the Dinophilidae and the archiannelid problem. In: S. Conway Morris, J. D. George, R. Gibson & H. M. Platt (eds), The Origins and Relationships of Lower Invertebrates. Syst. Assoc. Spec. Vol., Clarendon Press, Oxford 28: 310–326.

  • Westheide, W. & R. M. Rieger, 1978. Cuticle ultrastructure of hesionid polychaetes (Annelida). Zoomorphologie 91: 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva, Università di Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, I-53100, Siena, Italy

    Emilia Rota & Pietro Lupetti

Authors
  1. Emilia Rota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pietro Lupetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rota, E., Lupetti, P. An ultrastructural investigation of Hrabeiella Pižl & Chalupský, 1984 (Annelida). I. Chaetae and body wall organization. Hydrobiologia 334, 229–239 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017373

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017373

Key words

Search

Navigation