Protoplanella leiae Houben, Proesmans & Artois, 2022

Houben, Albrecht M., Monnens, Marlies, Proesmans, Willem & Artois, Tom J., 2022, Limnoterrestrial ‘ Typhloplanidae’ (Rhabdocoela, Platyhelminthes), with the description of four new species and a new genus, European Journal of Taxonomy 798, pp. 70-102 : 96-98

Protoplanella leiae Houben, Proesmans & Artois sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:449E44F6-12BB-4103-B70A-56E59B734A11

Protoplanella simplex – Luther 1963: 5, 13–14, fig. 1, taf. 1. — Van Steenkiste et al. 2011: 2 , 6–7, fig. 3.

Diagnosis

‘Protoplanellinae’ with adenal rhabdites anterior, dermal rhabdites absent. Eyes absent. Pharynx centrally positioned. Paired, globular testes occur laterally behind the pharynx. Vasa deferentia unite while entering the copulatory organ proximally. Copulatory organ with straight, muscular ejaculatory duct. Female bursa present. Blind sack attached to the genital atrium.

Etymology

The species epithet is dedicated to Leia Houben, youngest daughter of the first author (A.M. Houben).

Material examined

Holotype SPAIN • 1 spec., serially sectioned; La Puebla del Rio ; 37°13′39″ N, 06°10′52″ W; 21 Mar. 2008; Van Steenkiste et al. 2011 leg.; mosses on bank of dried up temporal brook in open coniferous forest; KV.689 ; FMNH.

Paratype SPAIN • 1 spec., serially sectioned; same collection data as for holotype; paratype no. 824 ; HU .

Description

Van Steenkiste et al. (2011) gave an excellent description of this animal, albeit described as Protoplanella simplex . Therefore, we refer to this publication for the illustration and description of Protoplanella leiae Houben, Proesmans & Artois sp. nov.

Discussion

See the general discussion on the genus Protoplanella Reisinger, 1924 .

Previously known distribution

Tvärminne, Finland in mosses ( Luther 1963; as Protoplanella simplex ). La Puebla del Rio, Spain ( Van Steenkiste et al. 2011; as P. simplex ).