DOCSLIB.ORG

A New and Primitive Retrobursal Planarian from Australian Fresh

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A New and Primitive Retrobursal Planarian from Australian Fresh A new and primitive retrobursal planarian from Australian fresh waters (Platyhelminthes, Turbellaria, Tricladida) by Ian R. Ball Institute of Taxonomie Zoology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Abstract 1913) and fixed in 70% ethanol. For anatomical A freshwater Eviella et embedded in primitive planarian, hynesae gen. observations, selected specimens were described from characterized its sp. nov. is Australia. It is by in the usual and sectioned at paraffin way serially of and of branched lack eyes pigment, possession caudally 8 m intervals. The sections were mounted on and fused bursa fi oviducts, fully testes. Although a primary is its function taken the modified female absent, being over by 75 X 50 mm glass slides, the first section on each canal, the female is posterior to the genital copulatory system slide in the left-hand when the being upper corner male system. Despite this maricolan feature, and other slide label is to the Frontal sections were similarities with primitive southern hemisphere freshwater right. planarians that have been classified in the Maricola, the arranged with the ribbons running horizontally; present species is placed in the family Dugesiidae of the the sagittal and transverse sections were arranged Paludicola. Evidence from its that it sensory organs suggests with the ribbons vertical. The sections were stained belongs on the main evolutionary line from which the majority of Australasian freshwater planarians have been with Mallory-Heidenhain stain, or with Phospho- derived. in tungstic Acid Haematoxylin, and were mounted DPX. variations in these noted Any procedure are INTRODUCTION at the appropriate place in the text. Among a collection of aquatic planarians from Australia made by Professor H. B. N. Hynes, and SYSTEMATIC SECTION Professor W. D. Williams, and described in an Family DUGESIIDAE Ball, 1974a earlier series of publications (Ball, 1974b, 1974c, of Eviella 1977), there occurred a sample unpigmented gen. nov. and blind specimens from the gravel bed of the Unpigmented Dugesiidae, without eyes, with one River in the State of Victoria. These Howqua of anterior Female pair sensory pits. copulatory hitherto undescribed specimens, representing a to the male organs posterior copulatory organs. showed of species, a number especially primitive Oviducts enter the female genital duct (bursal features that made their study particularly inter- from canal) separately the sides, and each has a esting and difficult. In the a new present paper caudal branch. Vasa deferentia enter the penis is to contain the to be erected new species from the genus bulb separately sides. Testes fused, pre- and and described, a detailed anatomical account, dominantly ventral, and throughout the body of the material is systematic discussion, given. With Cocoon unknown. length. one gonopore. Type species: Eviella hynesae sp. nov. MATERIALS AND METHODS Details the and locations The is named for Dr. Eveline Marcus of Säo concerning source present genus the Paulo in of her of the specimens are given under appropriate recognition major contributions to species heading below. The specimens were killed invertebrate zoology, and as a mark of my personal in Steinmann's fluid (Steinmann & Bresslau, gratitude and affection. Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 02:48:34AM via free access 150 I. R. BALL - A NEW RETROBURSAL PLANARIAN Eviella of 100 the hynesae sp. nov. Alimentary system: For a body length root of the is about 45 and its — at at Type material. Department of Entomology and Inverte- pharynx tip brate Royal Museum, Toronto, Canada. 66. the is the Zoology, Ontario Thus pharynx about one fifth of Holotype: sagittal sections on five slides (ROM C94a). Para- body length and is inserted a little less than half- slides frontal types: sagittal sections on three (ROM C94b), the of way down The histological structure sections on four slides (ROM C94c), transverse sections on body. made the is the of five slides (ROM C94d; an error was in mounting pharynx basically same as that the these sections, but the correct order has been marked on each marine and lower freshwater planarians (Kenk, slide), several entire specimens in alcohol (KOM C94). the inner been retained collection. 1930; Ball, viz., musculature Further paratypes have in my private 1974a) consists of distinct circular and longitudinal fibrous Description. — General features (fig. 1): Maxi- zones. The anterior ramus of the intestine ends size of animals 6 To- mum preserved X 2.2 mm. small diverticula situated blindly as a group of tally devoid of pigment; without Body broad eyes. anteriorly to the brain; otherwise there are no flat with and leaf-like, at the margins but a of this A very noteworthy peculiarities system. com- rounded cross-section The head or medially. munication and the plump between the intestine repro- is with in rounded, a slight point or projection ductive system is not present. the mid-line, and without definite auricles. Just behind the anterior there are two margin deep Body wall (fig. 3): In its general structure the ciliated one on each side. In life it is pits, probable body wall is similar to that described for other that this species is most similar to Opisthobursa Australasian planarians (Weiss, 1910; Ball, mexicana as figured by Mitchell & Kawakatsu 1974b, 1974c). Eosinophilic gland cells, discharg- 3, (1972: % 1). the ing through epidermis, are very prominent the flattened anterior and just beneath margin are distributed in two longitudinal zones far distant from the lateral margins, there being one strip such cells of on each side of the mid-line.Marginal adhesive zones are common in aquatic planarians but such is (Hyman, 1951) a medial position unusual. Sense organs (fig. 1): Although eyes are lacking, there remain two of in this types sensory organs the and the species, ciliated pits, sensory fossae. The ciliated pits are broad and deep invaginations of the body wall, one on each side (fig. 1) on the slightly projecting lateral margins of the head. Their tall nucleate epithelium is free of rhabdites and clothed in long cilia. Histologically they are identical with those described for other Austral- asian planarians (Weiss, 1910; Ball, 1974b, The fossae of 1974c, 1977). sensory are especial interest because all hitherto described freshwater planarians from Australia possess these structures. In the present species there are two shallow sen- fossae each side of the anterior sory on margin between the ciliated pits and the mid-line. They are identical to those described in many species of the genus Spathula, the most diverse in et genus Fig. 1. Eviella hynesae gen. sp. nov. External features the from Australasian region (Ball, 1977). drawn a preserved specimen. Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 02:48:34AM via free access 47 - BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, (2) 1977 151 2. Eviella reconstruction of the viewed from the Fig. hynesae gen. et sp. nov., holotype. Sagittal copulatory apparatus right = = = = side, bc = “bursa = male od shell copulatrix”; eg cement glands; ma atrium; right oviduct; pe penis; sg = deferens. glands; vd right vas Male reproductive system (figs. 2-3): The testes papilla that projects into the male atrium. In the swol- of this species are unusual. Normal follicular testes pharyngeal region the vasa deferentia become of and are absent, instead there is a ramified system len immediately anterior to the copulatory with that ascend almost fused testes, packed sperm, extend apparatus they vertically before throughout the expanded part of the body, com- bending ventrad to enter the penis bulb separately the from the there mencing just behind the ovaries. Although sides; is no common vas deferens. in the the testes are predominantly ventral position (fig. Within bulb, vasa deferentia open into a 3) they frequently extend between and around the spacious seminal vesicle that narrows to form an intestinal branches. The boundary of the male ejaculatory duct opening at the tip of the papilla. gonads within the mesenchyme is often difficult to Together the seminal vesicle and the ejaculatory delimitand spermatogonia, spermatids, and mature duct have the form of a conical flask with slightly walls that in section the seminal sperm seem frequently to be indiscriminantly scat- concave so sagittal tered the vesicle has in the throughout the body, sperm forming long a peculiar triangular form, as sinuous strands (fig. 3, te). recently described Opisthobursa josephinae (Be- is All the of the male The male atrium a large cavity, opening ven- nazzi, 1976). epithelia copula- is and all nucleate trally by a single gonoporewhich surrounded by tory organ are fairly tall, are The walls the atrium cement glands. of are formed (fig. 3A). from bounded circular a tall nucleate epithelium by and longitudinal muscle fibres. The penis consists Female reproductive system (figs. 2-3): The conical ovaries of a muscular hemispherical bulb and a paired are ventrally situated, medially to Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 02:48:34AM via free access 152 I. R. BALL - A NEW RETROBURSAL PLANARIAN Eviella section the X section the Fig. 3. hynesae gen. et sp. nov. A, sagittal through penis, 130; B, sagittal through C, 130. br = = ov = sm = “bursa”, X 130; sagittal section through the ovary, X brain; in intestine; ovary; sperm = in the te = vitelline cells to the For further with 2. mass “bursa”; testis; vc adpressed ovary. interpretation compare fig. Downloaded from Brill.com09/28/2021 02:48:34AM via free access BIJDRAGEN TOT DE DIERKUNDE, 47 (2) - 1977 153 the brain. The with and the lateral nerve cords, just behind 3-4 m wide fixed boulders and rocks, oviducts arise from the anterodorsal side of each some gravel. It flows fairly swiftly in the flatter and thus ascend before of the between and it is ovary vertically curving part valley deep slopes, ventrad and caudad towards the surrounded and overshadowed tall forest. This copulatory appa- by ratus.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of the Australian Region
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Winsor, Leigh (2003) Studies on the systematics and biogeography of terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of the Australian region. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24134/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24134/ Studies on the Systematics and Biogeography of Terrestrial Flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of the Australian Region. Thesis submitted by LEIGH WINSOR MSc JCU, Dip.MLT, FAIMS, MSIA in March 2003 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Discipline of Zoology and Tropical Ecology within the School of Tropical Biology at James Cook University Frontispiece Platydemus manokwari Beauchamp, 1962 (Rhynchodemidae: Rhynchodeminae), 40 mm long, urban habitat, Townsville, north Queensland dry tropics, Australia. A molluscivorous species originally from Papua New Guinea which has been introduced to several countries in the Pacific region. Common. (photo L. Winsor). Bipalium kewense Moseley,1878 (Bipaliidae), 140mm long, Lissner Park, Charters Towers, north Queensland dry tropics, Australia. A cosmopolitan vermivorous species originally from Vietnam. Common. (photo L. Winsor). Fletchamia quinquelineata (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888) (Geoplanidae: Caenoplaninae), 60 mm long, dry Ironbark forest, Maryborough, Victoria. Common. (photo L. Winsor). Tasmanoplana tasmaniana (Darwin, 1844) (Geoplanidae: Caenoplaninae), 35 mm long, tall open sclerophyll forest, Kamona, north eastern Tasmania, Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • R E S E a R C H / M a N a G E M E N T Aquatic and Terrestrial Flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Turbellaria) and Ribbon Worm (Nemertea)
    RESEARCH/MANAGEMENT FINDINGSFINDINGS “Put a piece of raw meat into a small stream or spring and after a few hours you may find it covered with hundreds of black worms... When not attracted into the open by food, they live inconspicuously under stones and on vegetation.” – BUCHSBAUM, et al. 1987 Aquatic and Terrestrial Flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Turbellaria) and Ribbon Worm (Nemertea) Records from Wisconsin Dreux J. Watermolen D WATERMOLEN Bureau of Integrated Science Services INTRODUCTION The phylum Platyhelminthes encompasses three distinct Nemerteans resemble turbellarians and possess many groups of flatworms: the entirely parasitic tapeworms flatworm features1. About 900 (mostly marine) species (Cestoidea) and flukes (Trematoda) and the free-living and comprise this phylum, which is represented in North commensal turbellarians (Turbellaria). Aquatic turbellari- American freshwaters by three species of benthic, preda- ans occur commonly in freshwater habitats, often in tory worms measuring 10-40 mm in length (Kolasa 2001). exceedingly large numbers and rather high densities. Their These ribbon worms occur in both lakes and streams. ecology and systematics, however, have been less studied Although flatworms show up commonly in invertebrate than those of many other common aquatic invertebrates samples, few biologists have studied the Wisconsin fauna. (Kolasa 2001). Terrestrial turbellarians inhabit soil and Published records for turbellarians and ribbon worms in leaf litter and can be found resting under stones, logs, and the state remain limited, with most being recorded under refuse. Like their freshwater relatives, terrestrial species generic rubric such as “flatworms,” “planarians,” or “other suffer from a lack of scientific attention. worms.” Surprisingly few Wisconsin specimens can be Most texts divide turbellarians into microturbellarians found in museum collections and a specialist has yet to (those generally < 1 mm in length) and macroturbellari- examine those that are available.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Analysis of Mitogenomes from Parasitic and Free-Living Flatworms
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Evolutionary Analysis of Mitogenomes from Parasitic and Free-Living Flatworms Eduard Solà1☯, Marta Álvarez-Presas1☯, Cristina Frías-López1, D. Timothy J. Littlewood2, Julio Rozas1, Marta Riutort1* 1 Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat and Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, 2 Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, United Kingdom ☯ These authors contributed equally to this work. * [email protected] (MR) Abstract Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are useful and relatively accessible sources of mo- lecular data to explore and understand the evolutionary history and relationships of eukary- OPEN ACCESS otic organisms across diverse taxonomic levels. The availability of complete mitogenomes Citation: Solà E, Álvarez-Presas M, Frías-López C, from Platyhelminthes is limited; of the 40 or so published most are from parasitic flatworms Littlewood DTJ, Rozas J, Riutort M (2015) (Neodermata). Here, we present the mitogenomes of two free-living flatworms (Tricladida): Evolutionary Analysis of Mitogenomes from Parasitic and Free-Living Flatworms. PLoS ONE 10(3): the complete genome of the freshwater species Crenobia alpina (Planariidae) and a nearly e0120081. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120081 complete genome of the land planarian Obama sp. (Geoplanidae). Moreover, we have rea- Academic Editor: Hector Escriva, Laboratoire notated the published mitogenome of the species Dugesia japonica (Dugesiidae). This con- Arago, FRANCE tribution almost doubles the total number of mtDNAs published for Tricladida, a species-rich Received: September 18, 2014 group including model organisms and economically important invasive species. We took the opportunity to conduct comparative mitogenomic analyses between available free-living Accepted: January 19, 2015 and selected parasitic flatworms in order to gain insights into the putative effect of life cycle Published: March 20, 2015 on nucleotide composition through mutation and natural selection.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Subterranean Freshwater Planarians
    A.H. Harrath, R. Sluys, A. Ghlala, and S. Alwasel – The first subterranean freshwater planarians from North Africa, with an analysis of adenodactyl structure in the genus Dendrocoelum (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dendrocoelidae). Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 74, no. 1, p. 48–57. DOI: 10.4311/2011LSC0215 THE FIRST SUBTERRANEAN FRESHWATER PLANARIANS FROM NORTH AFRICA, WITH AN ANALYSIS OF ADENODACTYL STRUCTURE IN THE GENUS DENDROCOELUM (PLATYHELMINTHES, TRICLADIDA, DENDROCOELIDAE) ABDUL HALIM HARRATH1,2*,RONALD SLUYS3,ADNEN GHLALA4, AND SALEH ALWASEL1 Abstract: The paper describes the first species of freshwater planarians collected from subterranean localities in northern Africa, represented by three new species of Dendrocoelum O¨ rsted, 1844 from Tunisian springs. Each of the new species possesses a well-developed adenodactyl, resembling similar structures in other species of Dendrocoelum, notably those from southeastern Europe. Comparative studies revealed previously unreported details and variability in the anatomy of these structures, particularly in the composition of the musculature. An account of this variability is provided, and it is argued that the anatomical structure of adenodactyls may provide useful taxonomic information. INTRODUCTION have been reported (Porfirjeva, 1977). The Holarctic range of the Dendrocoelidae includes the northwestern section of The French zoologists C. Alluaud and R. Jeannel were North Africa, based on the records of Dendrocoelum among the first workers to research in some detail the vaillanti De Beauchamp, 1955 from the Grande Kabylie subterranean fauna of Africa (see, Jeannel and Racovitza, Mountains in Algeria and Acromyadenium moroccanum De 1914). Subsequently, an increasing number of groundwater Beauchamp, 1931 from Bekrit in the Atlas Mountains of species were reported from African caves (Messana, 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • Planarians, a Neglected Component of Biodiversity in Groundwaters
    diversity Article Planarians, a Neglected Component of Biodiversity in Groundwaters Benedetta Barzaghi 1,2,* , Davide De Giorgi 1, Roberta Pennati 1 and Raoul Manenti 1,2 1 Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy; [email protected] (D.D.G.); [email protected] (R.P.); [email protected] (R.M.) 2 Laboratorio di Biologia Sotterranea “Enrico Pezzoli”, Parco Regionale del Monte Barro, Località Eremo, 23851 Galbiate, Italy * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Underground waters are still one of the most important sources of drinking water for the planet. Moreover, the fauna that inhabits these waters is still little known, even if it could be used as an effective bioindicator. Among cave invertebrates, planarians are strongly suited to be used as a study model to understand adaptations and trophic web features. Here, we show a systematic literature review that aims to investigate the studies done so far on groundwater-dwelling planarians. The research was done using Google Scholar and Web of Science databases. Using the key words “Planarian cave” and “Flatworm Cave” we found 2273 papers that our selection reduced to only 48, providing 113 usable observations on 107 different species of planarians from both groundwaters and springs. Among the most interesting results, it emerged that planarians are at the top of the food chain in two thirds of the reported caves, and in both groundwaters and springs they show a high variability of morphological adaptations to subterranean environments. This is a first attempt to review the phylogeny of the groundwater-dwelling planarias, focusing on the online literature.
    [Show full text]
  • Planarians As Invertebrate Bioindicators in Freshwater Environmental Quality: the Biomarkers Approach
    Ecotoxicol. Environ. Contam., v. 9, n. 1, 2014, 01-12 doi: 10.5132/eec.2014.01.001 Planarians as invertebrate bioindicators in freshwater environmental quality: the biomarkers approach T. KNAKIEVICZ Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná - UNIOESTE (Received March 08, 2013; Accept March 17, 2014) Abstract Environmental contamination has become an increasing global problem. Different scientific strategies have been developed in order to assess the impact of pollutants on aquatic ecosystems. Planarians are simple organisms with incredible regenerative capacity due to the presence of neoblastos, which are stem cells. They are easy test organisms and inexpensive to grow in the laboratory. These characteristics make planarians suitable model-organisms for studies in various fields, including ecotoxicology. This article presents an overview of biological responses measured in planarians. Nine biological responses measured in planarians were reviewed: 1) histo-cytopathological alterations in planarians; 2) Mobility or behavioral assay; 3) regeneration assay; 4) comet assay; 5) micronucleus assay; 6) chromosome aberration assay; 7) biomarkers in molecular level; 8) sexual reproduction assay; 9) asexual reproduction assay. This review also summarizes the results of ecotoxicological evaluations performed in planarians with metals in different parts of the world. All these measurement possibilities make Planarians good bioindicators. Due to this, planarians have been used to evaluate the toxic, cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, and teratogenic effects of metals, and also to evaluate the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Planarians are also considered excellent model organisms for the study of developmental biology and cell differentiation process of stem cells. Therefore, we conclude that these data contributes to the future establishment of standardized methods in tropical planarians with basis on internationally agreed protocols on biomarker-based monitoring programmes.
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioral Parameters of Planarians (Girardia Tigrina) As Fast Screening, Integrative and Cumulative Biomarkers of Environmental Contamination: Preliminary Results
    water Article Behavioral Parameters of Planarians (Girardia tigrina) as Fast Screening, Integrative and Cumulative Biomarkers of Environmental Contamination: Preliminary Results Ana M. Córdova López 1,2 , Althiéris de Souza Saraiva 3, Carlos Gravato 4,* , Amadeu M. V. M. Soares 1,5 and Renato Almeida Sarmento 1 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Produção Vegetal, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Gurupi-Tocantins 77402-970, Brazil; [email protected] 2 Estación Experimental Agraria Vista Florida, Dirección de Desarrollo Tecnológico Agrario, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Carretera Chiclayo-Ferreñafe Km. 8, Chiclayo, Lambayeque 14300, Peru; [email protected] 3 Laboratório de Agroecossistemas e Ecotoxicologia, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano-Campus Campos Belos, Campos Belos-Goiás 73840-000, Brazil; [email protected] 4 Faculdade de Ciências & CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal 5 Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Citation: López, A.M.C.; Saraiva, Abstract: The present study aims to use behavioral responses of the freshwater planarian Girardia A.d.S.; Gravato, C.; Soares, A.M.V.M.; tigrina to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the aquatic ecosystem of the watershed Sarmento, R.A. Behavioral Araguaia-Tocantins (Tocantins, Brazil). Behavioral responses are integrative and cumulative tools that Parameters of Planarians (Girardia reflect changes in energy allocation in organisms. Thus, feeding rate and locomotion velocity (pLMV) tigrina) as Fast Screening, Integrative were determined to assess the effects induced by the laboratory exposure of adult planarians to water and Cumulative Biomarkers of samples collected in the region of Tocantins-Araguaia, identifying the sampling points affected by Environmental Contamination: contaminants.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasitic Flatworms
    Parasitic Flatworms Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology and Physiology This page intentionally left blank Parasitic Flatworms Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology and Physiology Edited by Aaron G. Maule Parasitology Research Group School of Biology and Biochemistry Queen’s University of Belfast Belfast UK and Nikki J. Marks Parasitology Research Group School of Biology and Biochemistry Queen’s University of Belfast Belfast UK CABI is a trading name of CAB International CABI Head Office CABI North American Office Nosworthy Way 875 Massachusetts Avenue Wallingford 7th Floor Oxfordshire OX10 8DE Cambridge, MA 02139 UK USA Tel: +44 (0)1491 832111 Tel: +1 617 395 4056 Fax: +44 (0)1491 833508 Fax: +1 617 354 6875 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cabi.org ©CAB International 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Parasitic flatworms : molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and physiology / edited by Aaron G. Maule and Nikki J. Marks. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-85199-027-9 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-85199-027-4 (alk. paper) 1. Platyhelminthes. [DNLM: 1. Platyhelminths. 2. Cestode Infections. QX 350 P224 2005] I. Maule, Aaron G. II. Marks, Nikki J. III. Tittle. QL391.P7P368 2005 616.9'62--dc22 2005016094 ISBN-10: 0-85199-027-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-85199-027-9 Typeset by SPi, Pondicherry, India.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies on the Systematics and Biogeography of Terrestrial Flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of the Australian Region
    ResearchOnline@JCU This file is part of the following reference: Winsor, Leigh (2003) Studies on the systematics and biogeography of terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of the Australian region. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24134/ The author has certified to JCU that they have made a reasonable effort to gain permission and acknowledge the owner of any third party copyright material included in this document. If you believe that this is not the case, please contact [email protected] and quote http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/24134/ Chapter 5 Systematic Account and Phylogeny ...I don't care much about working with land planarians. There are just too many of them and the older descriptions based primarily on colour are very difficult to apply to pickled specimens. Libbie Hyman in litt to Carl Pantin, early 1950 (letter in the Pantin Collection, Zoology Department, University of Cambridge, access courtesy of Dr Janet Moore) It is curious that so few Australian zoologists have concerned themselves with the study of the Land-Planarians. This is the more to be regretted inasmuch as the opportunities for collecting these animals are rapidly passing away with the clearing of the bush. Moreover, much remains to be done in the investigation of these and other Cryptozoic animals. The Land-Planarians, in particular, still demand thorough comparative anatomical investigation with a view to revising the generic classification. Dendy (1915) 5.1 INTRODUCTION TO THE FAMILIES, SUBFAMILIES & GENERA The classification of the Terricola provided in the Land Planarian Indices of the World (Ogren, Kawakatsu and others), together with the provisional classification of the Australian Geoplanidae (Winsor 1991c), are taken as the starting points for the taxonomy and systematics of the Terricola of the Australian region in this thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • The Macrobenthic Fauna of Great Lake and Arthurs Lake, Tasmania
    THE MACROBENTHIC FAUNA OF GREAT LAKE AND ARTHURS LAKE, TASMANIA. by ea W. FULTON B.Sc. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA HOBART May 1981 Old multiple-arch dam, Miena Great Lake, 1962 (Photo courtesy P. A. Tyler) "Benthic collecting can be fun ...." To the best of my knowledge, this thesis does not contain any material which has been submitted for any other degree or diploma in any university except as stated therein. Further, I have not knowingly included a copy or paraphrase of previously published or written material from any source without due reference being made in the text of this thesis. Wayne Fulton iii CONTENTS Page Title 1 Statement CONTENTS iii ABSTRACT 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 AIMS 3 1.2 HISTORY 4 1.3 DRAINAGE ALTERATIONS 11 1.4 GEOLOGY 14 1.5 GEOMORPHOLOGY 15 1.6 BIOLOGICAL HISTORY 18 CHAPTER 2 METHODS 21 2.1 SAMPLING DEVICE 21 2.2 SAMPLING PROGRAM 22 2.2.1 Collection and Sorting of Samples 25 2.2.2 Sample Sites 29 2.2.3 Summary of Sampling Program 35 2.3 SITE DESCRIPTIONS, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DATA 36 2.3.1 Discussion: Site Physical and Chemical Relationships .53 2.4 TREATMENT OF DATA 55 iv Page CHAPTER 3 FAUNAL COMPOSITION OF GREAT LAKE AND ARTHURS LAKE 58 3.1 INTRODUCTION 58 3.2 RESULTS 58 3.3 DISCUSSION 70 CHAPTER 4 QUANTITATIVE FAUNAL VARIATION OF GREAT LAKE AND ARTHURS LAKE 79 4.1 INTRODUCTION 79 4.2 RESULTS 80 4.2.1 Faunal Variation 80 4.2.1.1 Within series variation 81 4.2.1.2 Seasonal variation 86 4.2.1.3 Inter-site variation 93 4.2.1.3.1
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings Biological Society of Washington
    Vol. 82, pp. 539-558 17 November 1969 PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON FRESHWATER TRICLADS ( TURBELLARIA ) OF NORTH AMERICA. I. THE GENUS PLANARIA.1 BY ROMAN KENK Senior Scientist, The George Washington University, and Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution2 The genus Planaria was established by 0. F. Muller ( 1776: 221) to separate the free-living lower worms from the parasitic trematodes which retained the older name Fasciola. Origi- nally Planaria comprised all known Turbellaria living in fresh water, in the sea, and on land and, besides these, the present Nemertina or Rhynchocoela. The extent of the genus was gradually narrowed as newly established genera were separated from it, chiefly by Duges ( 1828 ), Ehrenberg ( 1831 ), and Orsted ( 1843 and 1844). After Ehrenberg's revision of the system, which first introduced the name Turbellaria, Planaria was restricted to turbellarians with branched intestine ( "Den- drocoela" ) which possessed two eyes. Orsted, who further re- fined the systematic arrangement of the "flatworms," separated the polyclads ("Cryptocoela") from the Dendrocoela and ap- plied the name Planaria mainly to triclads, both freshwater and marine, including also the many-eyed species which Ehrenberg had separated from Planaria. In 1844 ( p. 51) be re- moved from it the new genus Dendrocoelum on the basis of its intestinal branching. In the following years the name Planaria was used rather indiscriminately for many turbellarian forms. With the progress of the studies of the internal structure of the various turbellarian taxa in the second half of the nineteenth century it gradually became restricted to freshwater triclads. Supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-6016 to the George Wash- ington University.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Species of Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida
    Zootaxa 3551: 43–58 (2012) ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2012 · Magnolia Press Article ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2B86CE55-4FC6-43C3-BE42-391490DD2881 A new species of Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from the Afromontane forest in South Africa, with an overview of freshwater planarians from the African continent GIACINTA ANGELA STOCCHINO1,3, RONALD SLUYS2 & RENATA MANCONI1 1Dipartimento di Scienze della Natura e del Territorio, Via Muroni 25, I-07100 Sassari, Italy 2Naturalis Biodiversity Center (section ZMA), P.O. Box 9514, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands & Institute for Biodiversity and Eco- system Dynamics, University of Amsterdam 3Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract A new species of the genus Dugesia from the Amatola Mountains in the Eastern Province of South Africa is described, including a karyological account and notes on its life cycle and reproductive modes. The new species differs from its congeners in a unique combination of morphological characters of the copulatory apparatus, in particular the central course of the ejaculatory duct with its terminal opening at the tip of the penis papilla, the elongated seminal vesicle, the asymmetrical openings of the oviducts into the bursal canal, and the openings of vasa deferentia at about halfway along the seminal vesicle. In addition, an overview is provided of all freshwater triclads reported from the African continent including karyological information and notes on reproductive modes. Key words: Platyhelminthes, Dugesia, taxonomy, karyology, reproduction, distribution, Africa Introduction From the African continent three families of freshwater triclads are known viz. Dugesiidae, Dendrocoelidae, and Planariidae.
    [Show full text]