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| Cratera cryptolineata, C. nigrimarginata & C. aureomaculata |
Abstract
Areas of Araucaria 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 Cratera Carbayo et al., 2013 occurring in such type of forest in south Brazil. The three species are differentiated from their congeners mainly by their colour pattern, anatomy of the pharynx and prostatic vesicle, and details of the penis papilla and male atrium. An identification key to species of the genus in the Neotropical region is provided.
Keywords: Atlantic Forest, Geoplaninae, land flatworms, Neotropical region, taxonomy, Tricladida
Taxonomy
Family Geoplanidae Stimpson, 1857
Subfamily Geoplaninae Stimpson, 1857
Cratera Carbayo et al., 2013
• Cratera cryptolineata sp. n.
Diagnosis: Species of Cratera with dark-brown dorsal colour, thin median stripe and greyish margins; eyes dorsal with clear halos; pharynx cylindrical; prostatic vesicle almost horizontal; penis papilla conical and symmetrical occupying distal portion of female atrium.
Etymology: The specific name is a composite of the Greek adjective kryptós (hidden) and the Latin noun linea (stripe), referring to the thin median stripe, visible only under the stereomicroscope.
• Cratera nigrimarginata sp. n.
Diagnosis: Species of Cratera with light-brownish dorsal colour bordered by dark margins; eyes dorsal with clear halos and bilobed appearance; pharynx cylindrical; prostatic vesicle with unbranched and dilated proximal portion; tip of penis papilla with infolds projecting into ejaculatory duct; cyanophil glands pierce male atrium evenly distributed.
Etymology: The specific name is a composite of the Latin adjective niger (black) and the Latin noun margo (margin), referring to the colour pattern with dark margins.
• Cratera aureomaculata sp. n.
Diagnosis: Species of Cratera with dorsal ground colour yellowish covered by brownish pigmentation in cephalic region and blackish pigmentation constituting irregular flecks over rest of dorsum; eyes dorsal with clear halos; pharynx cylindrical; prostatic vesicle unpaired with proximal portion displaced ventrally, laterally expanded and T-shaped; penis papilla conical and symmetrical with ventral insertion posteriorly displaced.
Etymology: The specific name is a composite of the Latin adjective aureus (golden) and the Latin noun macula (spot), referring to the colour pattern with yellowish ground colour covered by black irregular flecks.
Ilana Rossi and Ana Leal-Zanchet. 2017. Three New Species of Cratera Carbayo et al., 2013 from Araucaria Forests with A Key to Species of the Genus (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola). ZooKeys. 643: 1-32. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.643.11093
Hidden diversity: 3 new species of land flatworms from the Brazilian Ara... bit.ly/2jusW5B via @Pensoft @EurekAlert
