Two new land planarian species (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) from the Cerrado biome in southwestern Brazil.

Most Neotropical land flatworm species are known from areas of the Atlantic Forest. Herein, we describe two new land planarian species from areas of semideciduous forest in the Cerrado biome in southwestern Brazil. Paraba aurantia Marques & Leal-Zanchet, sp.

Mind the food: Survival, growth and fecundity of a Neotropical land planarian (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) under different diets.

Although most land planarians are sensitive to environmental changes, some species are well adapted to human-disturbed areas and are easily transported to new places, having the potential to threaten native ecosystems. We investigated growth and survival in a land planarian common in human-disturbed areas in southern Brazil. Specimens of Obama anthropophila were divided into three groups that received different diets: (1) only the land planarian Luteostriata abundans (N=13), (2) only the slug Deroceras leave (N=12), and (3) alternating both prey types (N=13).

Two new land planarian species (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) from protected areas in southern Brazil.

We describe two new species of Neotropical land planarians found in protected areas of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. Cratera obsidiana Amaral, Boll Leal-Zanchet, sp. nov.

Why be original? Two new species of resembling the type species of the genus in their external aspects (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola).

The genus Graff, 1896 encompasses 16 species, most of them found in Brazil. Herein two new species of this genus are described from remnants of moist forests, located in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, south Brazil. Both species resemble the type-species of the genus, , showing brownish dorsal surface covered by dark-brown flecks.

Coming out in a harsh environment: a new genus and species for a land flatworm (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) occurring in a ferruginous cave from the Brazilian savanna.

Faunal inventories in ferruginous caves from an area belonging to the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado phytophysiognomy), on the eastern margin of the Serra do Espinhaço Plateau, in southeastern Brazil, have revealed the occurrence of land flatworms. Herein, a flatworm sampled in such subterranean environment is described as a new genus and species of the Neotropical subfamily Geoplaninae, gen. nov.

Integrative approach reveals two new species of Obama (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) from the South-Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

The genus Obama Carbayo et al., 2013 includes 38 species, being the most species-rich within Geoplaninae. Species of this genus show a similar anatomy regarding their copulatory apparatus, which may hinder species differentiation.

Two new sympatric troglobitic freshwater flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Dugesiidae) from a hotspot of subterranean biodiversity in the Neotropics.

The Areias System, situated in the Atlantic Forest, is considered a hotspot of troglobitic diversity in Brazil. Herein we describe two new sympatric, troglobitic species of Girardia occurring in this system. Both species show minute eyes; one of them has a whitish body, and the other scattered, fine pigmentation over the dorsal surface.

Searching for shelter in a ferruginous cave? A new species of from a plateau in the Brazilian savanna (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida).

In a fauna survey in the eastern margin of Serra do Espinhaço Plateau, in an area belonging to the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado phytophysiognomy), a land flatworm was sampled in a ferruginous cave. Anatomical and histological analyses indicated that it belongs to a new species of the genus , which is herein described. The new species shows an almost homogenous dark brown dorsal pigmentation, eyes spreading over the dorsal surface, a collar-shaped pharynx, and a prostatic vesicle with two portions separated by a canal.

Diversity out of simplicity: interaction behavior of land planarians with co-occurring invertebrates.

Land planarians have a simple anatomy and simple behavioral repertoire in relation to most bilaterian animals, which makes them adequate for the study of biological processes. In this study, we investigate the behavior of land planarians during interaction events with other invertebrates found in the same environment. We observed 16 different behavioral units, including seven different capture behaviors and three different prey ingestion behaviors.

Polyploidy as a chromosomal component of stochastic noise: variable scalar multiples of the diploid chromosome complement in the invertebrate species Girardia schubarti from Brazil.

Chromosome stoichiometry, a form of genetic plasticity, specifically refers to variation in the standard diploid genomic composition of an individual or species. In the present work, freshwater planarians (Girardia schubarti) were analyzed to recognize variations in chromosomal stoichiometry especially of complete ploidal change between specimens, within specimens and between cells within specimens and any relations they might have with selected components of phenotypic plasticity. Homoploid polyploids for the group reached rational scalar multiples (e.

Three new species of Carbayo et al., 2013 from forests with a key to species of the genus (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola).

Areas of moist forest have been considered to constitute hotspots of land flatworm diversity, harbouring a high number of undescribed species. Herein we describe three new species of land flatworms of Carbayo et al., 2013 occurring in such type of forest in south Brazil.

Two new species of Pasipha Ogren & Kawakatsu (Platyhelminthes: Continenticola) from areas of deciduous forest in southern Brazil.

Two new species of Geoplaninae from southern Brazil are described herein. The new species, belonging to the genus Pasipha Ogren & Kawakatsu, 1990, can be distinguished from each other and from their congeners by colour pattern and characteristics of the copulatory apparatus, especially regarding the female organs and prostatic vesicle. Both new species seem to be endemic to areas covered by deciduous forest.

Two new species of freshwater flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Continenticola) from South American caves.

The diversity of freshwater triclads in the Neotropical region is considered to be low, but extensive areas of South America remain almost unexplored. Herein we describe two cave-dwelling, new species of Girardia, one from a transition zone of the Cerrado and Caatinga phytophysiognomies and the other from the Cerrado phytophysiognomy. The species from the Cerrado-Caatinga transition is a troglobite, eyeless and whitish; the species from the Cerrado area is possibly a troglophile, since it shows heavily pigmented body and eyes.

Preference for different prey allows the coexistence of several land planarians in areas of the Atlantic Forest.

Land planarians are recognized as important predators, yet studies on their feeding habits are usually restricted to invasive species. Thus, it is difficult to determine the real ecological role of this group in ecosystems and how their communities are structured. In the present study, we analyzed the diet of six co-occurring Neotropical land planarians and their success in capturing prey, based on experiments in the laboratory, in order to determine how they share resources in the same environment.

Microturbellarians (Platyhelminthes and Acoelomorpha) in Brazil: invisible organisms?

Microturbellarians typically belong to the benthos and may occur in a wide variety of environments. They are abundant in freshwater and marine ecosystems and may occur in moist terrestrial habitats. However, turbellarians are seldom taken into account in studies of biodiversity.

A taste for exotic food: Neotropical land planarians feeding on an invasive flatworm.

Invasive species establish successfully in new habitats especially due to their ability to include new species in their diet and due to the freedom from natural enemies. However, native species may also adapt to the use of new elements in their ecosystem. The planarian Endeavouria septemlineata, first recorded in Hawaii, was later found in Brazil.

A new species of (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) extends the known distribution of land planarians in Chacoan province (Chacoan subregion), South America.

Background: The subfamily Geoplaninae (Geoplanidae) includes land planarian species of the Neotropical Region. In Argentina, the knowledge about land planarian diversity is still incipient, although this has recently increased mainly in the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. However, other regions like Chacoan forests remain virtually unexplored.

The first troglobitic species of freshwater flatworm of the suborder Continenticola (Platyhelminthes) from South America.

Brazilian cave diversity, especially of invertebrates, is poorly known. The Bodoquena Plateau, which is located in the Cerrado Biome in central Brazil, has approximately 200 recorded caves with a rich system of subterranean water resources and high troglobitic diversity. Herein we describe a new troglobitic species of Girardia that represents the first obligate cave-dwelling species of the suborder Continenticola in South America.

A new genus and species for the first recorded cave-dwelling Cavernicola (Platyhelminthes) from South America.

Species diversity of Brazilian cave fauna has been seriously underestimated. A karst area located in Felipe Guerra, northeastern Brazil, which is a hotspot of subterranean diversity in Brazil, has revealed more than 20 troglobitic species, most of them still undescribed. Based on recent samplings in this karst area, we document the occurrence of the suborder Cavernicola (Platyhelminthes) in South American hypogean environments for the first time and describe a new genus and species for this suborder.

A new species of Supramontana Carbayo & Leal-Zanchet (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola, Geoplanidae) from the Interior Atlantic Forest.

Supramontana argentina sp. nov. (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola, Geoplanidae) from north-eastern Argentina is herein described.

A new species of land flatworm (Platyhelminthes: Continenticola) from areas of Araucaria Forest in southern Brazil.

The genus Cratera Carbayo et al. was proposed to encompass five species of Geoplaninae from southeastern Brazil that were mainly recorded in the state of São Paulo. Here we describe a new species of the genus, C.

Embryonic development of Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola).

The embryonic development of freshwater triclads is mainly known from studies of species of Dendrocoelum, Planaria, Polycelis, and, more recently, Schmidtea. The present study characterizes the development of Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) by means of optical microcopy using glycol methacrylate semi-thin sections. 94 cocoons were collected in the period from laying to hatching, with intervals of up to twenty-four hours.

Chromosome polymorphism and complements in populations of Girardia species (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola) from southern Brazil.

The karyotypes of four species of freshwater triclads of the genus Girardia (Platyhelminthes), i.e. G.

Histological and histochemical characterization of the secretory cells of Choeradoplana iheringi Graff, 1899 (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola).

The present study aims at providing a detailed description of the histology, as well as the first histochemical characterization, of the secretory cells of the epidermis, pharynx, and copulatory organs of Choeradoplana iheringi, in order to give further support to studies on the physiology of these organs. The secretory cells are distinguished on the basis of secretion morphology and its staining properties, using trichrome methods and histochemical reactions. Four cell types open through the epidermis of Ch.

Histological and histochemical aspects of the penial glands of Girardia biapertura Sluys, 1997 (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Paludicola).

Girardia biapertura was described with sperm ducts penetrating the penis bulb, subsequently opening separately at the tip of the penis papilla and receiving the abundant secretion of penial glands. In the present work, the penial glands of this species have been histologically and histochemically analysed, and four types of secretory cells are distinguished. The openings of the penial glands into the intrabulbar and intrapapillar sperm ducts, designated here as intrapenial ducts, allow for the distinction between three histologically differentiated regions.