Turbellarian taxonomic database

Abstract / Notes

Seven new species of umagillid turbellarians from the intestine of aspidochirote holothurians of the Great
Barrier Reef are described: Cleistogamia heronensis sp.n., C. longicirrus sp.n., C. pulchra sp.n., C. pallii
sp.n., C. pyriformis sp.n. and Wahlia stichopi sp.n. as well as Paranotothrix queenslandensis gen.n. sp.n.
The new genus is recognized as distinct from Notothrix Hickman, 1955 because the female system lacks a
bursal
valve, a significant characteristic within the Umagillidae. Examination of this and other characteristics of
the family reveal that the division of the family by Stunkard & Corliss in 1950 into the sub-families
Collastominae Wahl, 1910, Bicladinae Stunkard & Corliss, 1950 and Umagillinae Wahl, 1910 is supported;
further, within the Umagillinae, four subgroups may be recognized: within holothurians are (i) the
Cleistogamia group with a secondary uterus, within this group Ozametra elegans and O. striata are placed in
Seritia gen.n. differing from Ozametra by the presence of both a bursal valve and a cuticular stylet, (ii)
the Anoplodium group with a single ovary and a muscular (not cuticular) male intromittent organ and (iii)
the
Umagilla group in which Monticellina longitubu becomes a junior synonym of U. forskalensis; within echinoids
(iv) the Syndesmis group in which Syndisyrinx is recognized a valid genus for those worms with a bursal
valve
and Syndesmis for those lacking this structure. Marcusella is suppressed. A visual key based upon presumed
primitive and derived states is given as is a full host check list of the Umagillidae.

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