NEMERTEANS OF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
985 
The esophageal epithelium is thrown up into numerous temporary longitudinal ridges of varying 
size and thickness. Some of the nephridial ducts open in the grooves between these ridges, as shown 
in fig. 7, while others open near or at the summit of the ridges (fig. 6). With varying degrees of 
extension of the walls of the esophagus and the consequent change in the height of the longitudinal 
ridges must occur great variations in the length of the efferent nephridial ducts. 
Both of the two specimens sectioned presented similar conditions, although the number of such 
efferent ducts is somewhat different in each and on the two sides of the body. The actual number is 
difficult to determine with certainty, but is apparently between 7 and 20 on each side of the body. 
A smaller number of similar ducts open on the dorso-lateral surfaces of the body. These, too, 
originate directly from the larger nephridial canals, but whether there is actual communication between 
the canals opening externally and those opening into the esophagus could not be determined. The 
canals are much twisted and bent upon themselves, as well as being profusely branched, so that 
numerous sections of the canal occur in each transverse section of the body (figs. 6, 7). 
The ducts opening externally are interspersed irregularly between those opening into the esophagus, 
but the average position of the former is somewhat more anterior than that of the latter. Those opening 
externally are narrower and somewhat less conspicuous than the others. 
Fig. 7. — Tseniosoma cingulatum sp. nov. Portion of transverse section of body through 
middle of esophageal region, showing efferent nephridial duct (nd) opening through 
esophageal epithelium ( eep ) into lumen of esophagus; (nep) nephridial canals, 
situated beside and external to the esophageal blood lacunae (cl); (eg) esophage U 
glands; (In) lateral nerve. Other reference letters as in fig. 1. x 150. 
Although the two species mentioned above are the only nemerteans in which the nephridia are 
known to open into the esophagus, yet in one other species of the same genus, T. indicum ( Eupolia 
indica Punnett 0 ), fine cords of cells, resembling “delicate ducts compressed to obscure the lumen, pierce 
the glandular layer of the esophagus and may be traced to the 'esophageal epithelium,” although Punnett 
suggests that they are not functional. He was, however, unable to find any traces of other efferent 
ducts leading to the exterior of the body. 
Nervous system . — The most remarkable peculiarity of the nervous system is the presence of unusually 
large and numerous buccal or esophageal nerves. In the mouth region there are 4 to 6 large branches 
on each side, which together constitute a bulk nearly equal to the core of the lateral nerve in the same 
region. The buccal nerves are united with each other shortly after their origin from the brain and 
exhibit similar unions with the lateral nerves in the mouth region. 
Reproductive organs . — Sexual products not present in specimens collected in April. 
Parasites . — Both the specimens sectioned were infested with parasitic nematode worms which 
formed large and conspicuous cysts or tumors in the connective tissue between the esophageal epithelium 
a Gardner’s Fauna and Geography of the Maidive and Laccadive Archipelajgoes, vol. 1, part 1, Nemerteans, p. 104. 1901. 
