Membranelles very large and Genus _Actinotricha_
powerful; adoral zone not
continued to mouth; 5 anal cirri

* Presence at Woods Hole indicated by asterisk.


Genus EPICLINTES Stein '62.

(Stein '62, '64, '67; Mereschowsky '79; Gruber '87; Bütschli '88.)

Very active, contractile, colorless forms of rather small size. In
the fully expanded condition the body is oval and long, with its
greatest width in the center or at the front half of the body. The
posterior end is always drawn out into a relatively long tail, which
is extremely elastic. The peristome is short and stretches around the
front end of the animal. In the frontal region are from one to three
rows of cirri. The ventral surface is covered with longitudinal rows
of cilia, the number of rows being in dispute (6 to 7 according to
Stein; 9 according to Mereschowsky and Rees) Some of these cilia
project from the lateral edges and from the posterior end, where
they are slightly elongated. The anus is dorsal and placed at the
beginning of the posterior process. Macronucleus probably double.
Movement is rapid and restless, the tail process contracting to jerk
the body backward. Salt water.


Epiclintes radiosa Quenn. Fig. 50.