Genus Dolioletta

Borgert, 1894

Old nurse large (up to 4 cm long, excluding the dorsal appendix). M3 and M4 wider than the rest, M3 slightly dominant. In both phorozooid and gonozooid stages, alimentary canal forming a close dextral coil in the middle of the atrial floor. Anus median. Larval, oozooid, and gastrozooid stages are known only in Dolioletta gegenbauri.
Garstang (1933) recognized three species: Dolioletta gegenbauri, Dolioletta mirabilis, and Dolioletta valdiviae, but hesitated to merge the latter two species under the prior name mirabilis. In fact, some characters, such as the extension of the endostyle and gill-septum, seem to be variable (see also Bary, 1960). Herdman (1888) described Dolioletta tritonis, closely related to Dolioletta gegenbauri, but Borgert (1894) questioned its validity. Garstang (1933) did not recognize the specific status of tritonis, and considered it a variety of Dolioletta gegenbauri. Thompson (1948) identified and illustrated the form tritonis. Godeaux (1962) made a detailed study of this form from the coasts of western Africa, and compared it with the typical form, verifying the existence of numerous intermediate forms.

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