Turbellarian taxonomic database

Sphalloplana (Sphalloplana) californica Notes


Kenk R 1977 (citation)- p 10, 'THe species lives in the cave together with amphipods (Stygobromus wengerorum
Holsinger), which apparently are its natural food.  Mr. Hara informed me that in laboratory cultures the worm
does not accept liver as food, but ingests dead amphipods and, very eagerly, crayfish meat.  He was able to
maintain animals in a culture for over on year and to raise on specimen to maturity.  
    TAXONOMIC POSITION.- Sphalloplana californica is charaterized by a very feebly developed adhesive organ
and a somewhat aberrant structure of its copulatory apparratus, particularly the anatomy of the penis.  The
paired seminal vesicles opening into the ejaculatory duct and the development of a prostatic cavity are
unique within the genus as far as we know today."

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