Hooge MD & Tyler S 2003 (citation) - Haplogonaria phyllospadicis is similar to other members of the genus in having an unpaired ovary, paired testes, and a seminal bursa that lacks a bursal nozzle; however, unlike other known species of Haplogonaria, H. phyllospadicis has separate male and female gonopores. Despite being a seemingly overly plastic character for diagnostics, gonopore number is often used in distinguishing acoel genera (e.g., Convoluta versus Conaperta). In this case, we feel the difference in gonopore number is not significant enough to separate our species from species of Haplogonaria, so we now emend the diagnosis of the genus to include both gonopore conditions.
Return to Haplogonaria phyllospadicis