Haploposthia vandula Hooge and Tyler, 2001

Hooge, Matthew D. & Tyler, Seth, 2007, Acoela (Acoelomorpha) from Belize, Zootaxa 1479 (1), pp. 21-33 : 22

Haploposthia vandula Hooge and Tyler, 2001

( Fig. 1A )

Material. Living specimens in squeeze preparations.

Locality. Subtidal medium-grained sand surrounding Carrie Bow Cay (16°48’09” N, 88°04’55” W) , subtidal sediment from the south end of Manatee Cay (16°39’53” N, 88°11’33” W) , and subtidal sand among mangrove roots and Thalassia sp. from Twin Cays near West Bay (16°49’56” N, 88°06’29” W) .

Description. Mature specimens were ~ 800 µm long and ~ 300 µm wide ( Fig. 1A ). Body with distinctive yellow-gold coloration. Anterior end rounded, posterior more blunt due to presence of terminal male gonopore. Mature specimens with prominent paired strands of oocytes.

Remarks. Haploposthia vandula was the most commonly occurring acoel in our sediment samples. Its bright yellow coloration and broad body make it easily distinguishable from other acoels. This is the first finding of H. vandula outside of its type locality of Bermuda ( Hooge & Tyler 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photomicrographs of living acoel specimens. A. Haploposthia vandula. B. Kuma albiventer. C. Male copulatory organ of Kuma albiventer.