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Issue: Vol. 1945 No. 1: 28 Nov. 2008
Type: Article
Published: 2008-11-28
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1945.1.1
Page range: 1–38
Abstract views: 32
PDF downloaded: 2

Molecular and morphological evidence for two new species of terrestrial planarians of the genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes; Turbellaria; Tricladida; Terricola) from Europe

6 Off Hayfield Road, Birch Vale, High Peak, SK22 1DG, UK. (Scientific Associate, The Natural History Museum, London; Honorary Lecturer, University of Manchester)
Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
Department of Zoology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
Bridge House, Kirby Wiske, Thirsk, YO7 4ER, UK
Platyhelminthes Cytochrome oxidase I cox1 COI Microplana scharffi Microplana groga Microplana kwiskea Microplana terrestris Rhynchodemidae Microplaninae

Abstract

Three species of terrestrial planarian were found in a garden in Yorkshire, Microplana scharffi (Graff 1896), M. terrestris (Müller 1774) and a third Microplana species similar in size and shape to M. terrestris but brown (khaki) rather than grey/black. Mitochondrial cytochome oxidase I sequences show that the three are distinct species, but that the sequences of the khaki specimens are identical with a GenBank sequence under the name “Microplana terrestris”. Photomicrographs of the copulatory apparatus of several specimens of each species, including type material, are presented which confirm that the three species are distinct and show the variation within each species. The khaki species is named as Microplana kwiskea n. sp. Specimens from Spain relating to the GenBank “Microplana terrestris” sequence have been examined and are not of that species, nor are they M. kwiskea. They are considered to be a further species, M. groga n. sp.

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