Two new Pleioplana species (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida, Acotylea) from Turkey

Abstract

Two new species of flatworms, Pleioplana bosphorensis sp. nov. and Pleioplana Okusi sp. nov., Acotylea, Polycladida, are described from the shallow rocky shores of the Turkish Straits System, northwestern Turkey. Both species are characterized by a prostatic vesicle of atomata-type, stylet and Lang's vesicle. Pleioplana bosphorensis possesses a body of fleshy consistency and without tentacles, with spermiducal bulbs; elongated seminal vesicle and rounded prostatic vesicle with four tubular chambers and a conical, strong, large and straight stylet. Pleioplana Okusi has a translucent body, tentacular knobs, large seminal vesicle, elongated prostatic vesicle with six tubular chambers, and a long slender slightly curved stylet.

Keywords:

• Pleioplana
• Polycladida
• Platyhelminthes
• taxonomy
• Turkey

Acknowledgements

We are much indebted to Dr Anno Faubel (Institut für Hydrobiologie und Fischereiwissenschaft, Univesität Hamburg, Germany) for his permanent guidance and to Dr Néstor Cazzaniga, Zoología de Invertebrados I (Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina) for providing his laboratory and required equipment. In addition, we would like to thank Liz Hemond for correcting an earlier draft of the English manuscript. This work was partially supported by the Project: “Estudios sobre biodiversidad, control de poblaciones y conservación” (Project No. 24/B088), Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina.