Australoplana also known as Australian flatworm is a genus of land planarians from Australia and New Zealand.
| Australoplana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Australoplana sanguinea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Tribe: | Caenoplanini |
| Genus: | Australoplana Winsor, 1991 |
| Type species | |
| Caenoplana sanguinea Moseley, 1877 | |
Description
The genus Australoplana is characterized by having an elongated, strap-like body that is broadly convex dorsally and flat ventrally. The creeping sole occupies less than 25% of the body with. The eyes are absent or minute and arranged along the body margins in a single row from the anterior to the posterior end. The parenchymal longitudinal musculature is very weak or absent. The copulatory apparatus has an intra-antral penis papilla in some species and the ovovitelline ducts enter the female atrium ventrally.[1]
Invasive species
Australoplana sanguinea is an invasive alien species in England and Wales where it predates on earthworms. [2]
Etymology
The name Australoplana comes from Latin australis, southern + plana, flat.[1]
Species
The genus Australoplana includes the following species:
- Australoplana alba
- Australoplana minor (Dendy, 1892)
- Australoplana rubicunda (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888)
- Australoplana sanguinea (Moseley, 1877)
- Australoplana typhlops (Dendy, 1894)
References
External links
Media related to Australoplana at Wikimedia Commons
