Spathula

Spathula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Family: Dugesiidae
Genus: Spathula
Nurse, 1950
Species

See text

Spathula is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.

Until 1977, Spathula was ranked as a subgenus of Dugesia.[1] The name of the genus derives from the Latin spathula, meaning "broad, flat piece".

Description

Specimens of this genus have a triangular head.[2] Along with this, the genus was originally defined as planarians with "one atrium (undivided) around the penis, into which opens the bursa stalk" and numerous testes.[3]

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Spathula[4]

References

  1. ^ Ball, I. R. (1977). "A monograph of genus Spathula (Platyhelminthes : Turbellaria : Tricladida)". Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series. 25 (47): 1. doi:10.1071/AJZS047.
  2. ^ Ball, I. R.: A contribution to the phylogeny and biogeography of the freshwater triclads (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria). Biology of the Turbellaria (Edited by: Riser NW and Morse MP). New York: McGraw-Hill New York 1974, 339-401.
  3. ^ Nurse, Frances R. 1950. Freshwater triclads new to the fauna of New Zealand. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 78(4): 410-417.
  4. ^ *Tyler S, Schilling S, Hooge M, and Bush LF (comp.) (2006-2012) Turbellarian taxonomic database. Version 1.7 Database Archived 2012-02-04 at the Wayback Machine