| Author Title Journal |
Ogren RE, Darlington JT (1991) Geoplana arkalabamensis n. sp., a land planarian form the southern United States (Turbellaria: Tricladida: Geoplanidae). Trans Am Microsc Soc 110(3):226-236 |
Abstract / Notes
A new species of land planarian is described from specimens collected from Monroeville, Monroe Co., Alabama in 1981 and from Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, U.S.A. in 1974, and represents the first definitive species of Geoplana from the southern United States. Geoplana arkalabmensis n. sp. has an elongate, flattened body that is tapered at both ends. The pale ciliated creeping sole is as broad as the ventral surface. The mouth and gonopore are located ventrally in the posterior one-third of the body. Individuals are 40-65 mm long and 5-10 mm wide. Body color is black to blue-black dorsally with a single median less pigmented pale zone extending for most of the body length. Anteriorly, the dorsal pigmentation has a mottled, reticular, or streaked appearance. The eyes are located along the sides of the body, extending dorsally on each side for nearly one-third of body width. The testes are dorsal. The copulatory apparatus has a well-developed penis papilla. The female canal, as is typical for the genus Geoplana, enters the genital antrum dorsally and receives the oviducts anteriorly; a posterior diverticulum is present.
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