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Reteterebella queenslandia has a simple internal anatomy. It has a complex and well developed hemal system with a muscular heart and extensive blood supply to the branchial appendages. There is very little specalisation of the digestive system. The mouth and pharynx are highly muscularised and used for sorting sand particles into different sizes (Mathers and Bennett, 1993). The mid and hindgut demonstrated very little regional specalisation.
The tentacles of R. queenslandia demonstrated unusual internal structure. The tentacles are ceolomic based with extensive musculature and several unidentified clusters of cells, possible nerve bundles running the length of the tentacle. The transport grove of the tentacle was highly ciliated and heavily populated with secretor glands along the outer edge. The TS dissection of the anterior section of R. queenslandia clearly shows the extensive blood supply to the branchial structures. It also demonstrates the main internal ventral musculature used for locomotion. |
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Digestive system of R. queenslandia with circular muscles towards the anterior in green
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Digestive system pinned out and pharynx exposed. The hemal system and extensive internal vascularisation is also visible.
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Close up of dissectecd mouth and pharynx of R. queenslandia |
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| Section of anterior of R. queenslandia showing the central ventral muscle chord. |
Cross section of a buccal tentacle with extensive muscularisation of the ceolom. |
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Anterior section showing the pharynx of R. queenslandia
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Close up of the pharynx showing cilliation of the pharynx
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