@article {ZSC:ZSC12175, title = {Non-destructive imaging to describe a new species of Obama land planarian (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)}, journal = {Zoologica Scripta}, volume = {45}, number = {5}, year = {2016}, pages = {566{\textendash}578}, abstract = {

The land planarians in the genus Obama include the largest species of the Neotropical Geoplaninae. Morphological discrimination of Obama species can be difficult, as many species are morphologically similar and some present asymmetric \– difficult to interpret \– copulatory organs. New techniques are thus welcomed to provide faster species description and identification. Here, we study several specimens of Obama by means of mainly 2D and 3D \μCT-based images obtained through X-ray microcomputed tomography (\μCT) of a paratype, and, complementarily, histological sections of the holotype and a second paratype, which were digitized into virtual slides. Comparison of these images with traditional histological sections and descriptions of the known species of the genus allows us to conclude that our specimens constitute a new species, which we describe here. We further evaluate the phylogenetic placement of the new species using gene fragments from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the nuclear elongation factor-1\α. Raw and derivative \μCT data and virtual histological sections were deposited in an open repository (GigaDB) and are freely available. This work leads us to conclude that \μCT constitutes a relatively fast, inexpensive non-destructive method that produces results comparable to those of traditional histology, and is thus amenable for describing flatworm species.

}, issn = {1463-6409}, doi = {10.1111/zsc.12175}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12175}, author = {Carbayo, Fernando and Francoy, Tiago M. and Giribet, Gonzalo} } @booklet {1547, title = {Micro-computed tomography scan and virtual histological slide data for the land planarian Obama otavioi (Platyhelminthes)}, volume = {5}, year = {2016}, month = {2016//}, pages = {1 - 7}, abstract = {

We investigated whether images obtained through X-ray micro-computed tomography (\μCT) can be used in conjunction with traditional methods for morphological studies of soft-bodied land planarians. \μCT is non-invasive and provides true-to-scale three-dimensional imagery at high resolution. We compared \μCT-based images of a recently described land planarian species of Obama otavioi (Platyhelminthes) with those obtained from light microphotography of histological sections, most of which were also digitized at high magnification.

}, isbn = {2047-217X}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13742-016-0119-4}, author = {Carbayo, Fernando and Lenihan, Jennifer Winifred} } @article {1493, title = {Evolutionary Analysis of Mitogenomes from Parasitic and Free-Living Flatworms}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {e0120081}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, address = {San Francisco, CA USA}, abstract = {

Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are useful and relatively accessible sources of molecular data to explore and understand the evolutionary history and relationships of eukaryotic organisms across diverse taxonomic levels. The availability of complete mitogenomes from Platyhelminthes is limited; of the 40 or so published most are from parasitic flatworms (Neodermata). Here, we present the mitogenomes of two free-living flatworms (Tricladida): the complete genome of the freshwater species Crenobia alpina (Planariidae) and a nearly complete genome of the land planarian Obama sp. (Geoplanidae). Moreover, we have reanotated the published mitogenome of the species Dugesia japonica (Dugesiidae). This contribution almost doubles the total number of mtDNAs published for Tricladida, a species-rich group including model organisms and economically important invasive species. We took the opportunity to conduct comparative mitogenomic analyses between available free-living and selected parasitic flatworms in order to gain insights into the putative effect of life cycle on nucleotide composition through mutation and natural selection. Unexpectedly, we did not find any molecular hallmark of a selective relaxation in mitogenomes of parasitic flatworms; on the contrary, three out of the four studied free-living triclad mitogenomes exhibit higher A+T content and selective relaxation levels. Additionally, we provide new and valuable molecular data to develop markers for future phylogenetic studies on planariids and geoplanids.

}, isbn = {1932-6203}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4368550/}, author = {Sol{\`a}, Eduard and {\'A}lvarez-Presas, Marta and Fr{\'\i}as-L{\'o}pez, Cristina and Littlewood, D Timothy J and Rozas, Julio and Riutort, Marta}, editor = {Escriva, Hector} } @article {boll_predation_2015, title = {Predation on invasive land gastropods by a {Neotropical} land planarian}, journal = {Journal of Natural History}, volume = {49}, number = {17-18}, year = {2015}, pages = {983{\textendash}994}, issn = {0022-2933, 1464-5262}, doi = {10.1080/00222933.2014.981312}, url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222933.2014.981312}, author = {Boll, Piter Kehoma and Leal-Zanchet, Ana Maria} } @book {410, title = {Monographie der Turbellarien. II. Tricladida Terricola (Landplanarien)}, volume = {2}, year = {1899}, pages = {574}, publisher = {Wilhelm Engelmann}, organization = {Wilhelm Engelmann}, address = {Leipzig}, url = {http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/ebind/hdok/h07_turbellarien_2/XML/index.xml?part=thumb}, author = {Graff, L. von} } @article {89, title = {A new species of terrestrial planarian (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) from South Brazil}, journal = {Brazilian Journal of Biology}, volume = {61}, number = {3}, year = {2001}, chapter = {1519}, author = {Carbayo, F. and Leal-Zanchet, A. M.} } @article {277, title = {Three new species of land flatworms and comments on a complex of species in the genus Geoplana Stimpson (Platyhelminthes: Continenticola)}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {3338}, year = {2012}, pages = {1-32}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {

Three new species of Geoplana Stimpson, 1857 from south Brazil, Geoplana ficki sp. nov., G. carbayoi sp. nov., and G. baptistae sp. nov., with dark, nearly homogeneous dorsum, reddish or orange venter, and eyes spreading over the dorsum, are described. The three can be included in the Graff group of \“large, broad and flat species\”, designated the G. applanatagroup by C. G. Froehlich (1967). The first described species presenting this pattern was G. rufiventris Schultze \& M\üller, 1857. Later, several other authors described various species exhibiting the \“dark dorsal surface and orange or reddish ventral side\” pattern. These species constitute an assemblage which will be here designated the G. rufiventris-complex. Apart from presenting a similar pattern, a further considerable difficulty in differentiating these taxa from the other large, broad and flat species of the genus Geoplana which were included in Froehlich\’s original G. applanata-group, resides in their possessing a very homogeneous copulatory apparatus. Characteristics of their external and internal morphology are here discussed to simplify the differentiation of sub-groups and comparison of species.

}, url = {http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2012/2/zt03338p032.pdf}, author = {Amaral, Silvana V. and Oliveira, Simone M. and Leal-Zanchet, A. M.} } @article {753, title = {Carnivore mollusks as natural enemies of invasive land flatworms}, journal = {Annals of Applied Biology}, volume = {161}, number = {2}, year = {2012}, pages = {127-131}, abstract = {

There are several records of the carnivorous behaviour of land flatworms, considered to be top-predators in their micro-habitats, by preying upon various species of invertebrates. However, there is little knowledge of predators on land-flatworms. The possible impact of invasive land flatworms on prey populations has caused widespread concern, when considering their predatory behaviour, combined with recent human influence on the distribution of certain species. This work is the first record of predation on land flatworms by a carnivorous snail. Various-sized land flatworms of 10 native species of the subfamily Geoplaninae, as well as the exotic species Bipalium kewense (subfamily Bipaliinae), were offered to Rectartemon depressus (Gastropoda, Streptaxidae), which accepted all. The predator also fed on the snail Bradybaena similaris. The snails were maintained in laboratory for an average period of 12?months based on a mixed diet of flatworms and B. similaris, suggesting that the snail is a polyphagous predator. Because certain land-flatworm species have been described as invasive species which may have a potential impact on prey populations in native and man-made ecosystems, it is proposed that carnivorous snails of other native species, as potential predators of flatworms, should be tested for possible use in biological control programmes of these invasive planarians.

}, issn = {0003-4746}, doi = {10.1111/j.1744-7348.2012.00556.x}, url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1744-7348.2012.00556.x/abstract}, author = {Lemos, V. S. and Canello, R. and Leal-Zanchet, A. M.} }