| Author Title Journal |
Hyman LH (1928) Studies on the morphology, taxonomy, and distribution of North American triclad Turbellaria. I. Procotyla fluviatilis, commonly but erroneously known as Dendrocoelum lacteum. Transact Amer Microsc Soc 47:222-255 |
Abstract / Notes
Owing to an error of Woodworth's in 1897, the common white triclad of the New England states is usually designated as Dendrocoelum lacteum despite the fact that Wilhelmi in 1909 pointed out the error and named the species D. graffi. Wilhelmi's name is, however, invalid, Procotyla fluviatilis Leidy 1857 being the correct name of the animal. A detailed description of its gross and minute anatomy is given together with a history of its taxonomy. Among the striking morphological features are the adhesive organ at the anterior end, the several irregular eyes, the massive penis bulb composed of alternating muscular and glandular layers and without a lumen, the absence of a true seminal vesicle, the slender elongated penis not provided with a flagellum, the canal-like form of the o atrium, the absence of typical shell-forming glands, and the presence behind the [female] atrium of a genital pouch into which the genital pore opens. In consideration of these characters, it is concluded that the species can not be placed in the genus Dendrocoelum and therefore Leidy's genus Procotyla (of which an emended diagnosis is given) is reinstated as the correct generic name, having priority over Procotylus Korotneff 1912, applied to one of the Lake Baikal triclads, not closely related to Leidy's species.
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