Australoplana
| Australoplana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Australoplana sanguinea | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Tribe: | |
| Genus: | Australoplana Winsor, 1991
|
| Type species | |
| Caenoplana sanguinea Moseley, 1877
| |
Australoplana also known as Australian flatworm is a genus of land planarians from Australia and New Zealand.
Description
The genus Australoplana is characterized by having an elongate, strap-like body that is broadly convex dorsally and flat ventrally. The creeping sole occupies less than 25% of the body with. The eyes are absent or minute and arranged along the body margins in a single row from the anterior to the posterior end. The parenchymal longitudinal musculature is very weak or absent. The copulatory apparatus has an intra-antral penis papilla in some species and the ovovitelline ducts enter the female atrium ventrally.[1]
Invasive species
Australoplana sanguinea is an invasive alien species in England and Wales where it predates on earthworms. [2]
Etymology
The name Australoplana comes from Latin australis, southern + plana, flat.[1]
Species
The genus Australoplana includes the following species:
- Australoplana minor (Dendy, 1892)
- Australoplana rubicunda (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888)
- Australoplana sanguinea (Moseley, 1877)
- Australoplana typhlops (Dendy, 1894)
References
- ^ a b Winsor, L. (1991). "A provisional classification of Australian terrestrial geoplanid flatworms (Tricladida: Terricola: Geoplanidae)". Victorian Naturalist. 109 (2): 42–49.
- ^ "Australian, New Zealand and other flatworms". Royal Horticultural Society. 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
External links
Media related to Australoplana at Wikimedia Commons
