Girardia clandestina

Benítez-Álvarez, Lisandra, Sluys, Ronald, Leal-Zanchet, Ana María, Leria, Laia & Riutort, Marta, 2023, First molecular phylogeny of the freshwater planarian genus Girardia (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) unveils hidden taxonomic diversity and initiates resolution of its historical biogeography, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 197 (1), pp. 1-19 : 10

GIRARDIA CLANDESTINA SLUYS &

BENÍTEZ- ÁLVAREZ SP. NOV.

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: zoobank. org:act: 6F75400B-1B3F-4B71-8351-5839C233019F

Holotype: Naturalis Biodiversity Center , ZMA V.Pl. 976.4, Arroyo Sauce, near Sauce, Departamento Canelones, near Montevideo, Uruguay, 1–3 January 1987, sagittal sections on six slides.

Etymology: The specific epithet is based on the Latin adjective clandestinus, secret, concealed, and alludes to the fact that it concerns a ‘hidden’ sibling species.

Differential diagnosis: A species of Girardia with low triangular head with bluntly pointed tip and short, broad auricles. Dorsal body coloration variable, being of a reticulated type with darkish spots and also a pair of dark stripes, separated by a pale mid-dorsal streak or composed of a dark background interspersed with white splotches and with a pale mid-dorsal line, or variations on these two major patterns. Reproductive complex basically as in G. tigrina : the only consistent anatomical difference between the two species residing in the coat of muscles around the bursal canal. In North American G. tigrina , this coat of muscles is simple, consisting of a thin subepithelial layer of circular muscle, followed by an equally thin layer of longitudinal muscle fibres. In contrast, G. clandestina possesses a bursal canal musculature that consists of a well-developed coat of intermingled circular and longitudinal muscle fibres.