01489nas a2200181 4500008004100000020002300041245011600064210006900180260002900249300001100278520087100289100001801160700001801178700001501196700002001211700001901231856005701250 2015 eng d a1313-29891313-297000aThe taxonomic status of Dugesia biblica from Israel and Turkey (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae)0 ataxonomic status of iDugesia biblicai from Israel and Turkey Pla bPensoft Publishersc2015 a1 - 123 a

The taxonomic status of Dugesia biblica (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Israel and Turkey is problematic due to its morphological similarity with Dugesia sicula since these nominal species present overlapping characters. In this study we analyzed histological preparations of specimens of these two nominal species and also compared mitochondrial COI gene sequences from Israeli populations to the already known haplotype composition of Dugesia sicula. We concluded that these animals belong to the same species and therefore we consider Dugesia biblica to be a junior synonym of Dugesia sicula. This implies that the distribution range of Dugesia sicula is even wider than previously thought, and that the species is present all around the Mediterranean Basin and on many of its islands.

1 aSolĂ , Eduard1 aSluys, Ronald1 aSegev, Ori1 aBlaustein, Leon1 aRiutort, Marta uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4467178/