Turbellarian taxonomic database

Abstract / Notes

Sixteen species of microturbellaria are recorded from freshwater environments in the vicinity of Ahmadu Bello
University, in the northern Nigeria. These constitute the 1st records for Nigeria and the West Africa
sub-region and these records increase the number of microturbellarian species reported from the African
continent to 67. Microdelyellia arndti sp. nov. is described. Mesostoma zariae Mead and Kolasa, 1981 is
included in the list and noted as a predator on mosquito larvae and pupae. Six other species constitute the
1st records of these worms for the African continent: Stenostomum brevipharyngium, S. grande, S. predatorium,
S. tuberculosum, Giesztoria cuspidata and Dochmiotema limicola. Methods are described for the field
collection of microturbellaria and for their isolation from samples in the laboratory. Notes are included on
the habit and diet of the worms whenerver this was observed. Predator-prey relationship between the worms is
particularly noted. Culture methods are described for a number of the species. Minor structural variations
and additional features not originally described for the known species are included in the text where
relevant. The current knowledge of the microturbellaria of Africa is discussed. [Other species new to Nigeria
include: Catenula confusa, Africatenula riuruae, S. leucops, S. unicolor, Myostenostomum tauricum,
Macrostomum sinyaense, Phaenocora foliacea and Gyratrix hermaphroditus.].

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