Eudóxia Maria Froehlich

Molecular phylogeny of Geoplaninae (Platyhelminthes) challenges current classification: proposal of taxonomic actions

Despite likely being the most diverse group within the Tricladida, the systematics of land planarians (Geoplanidae) has received minor attention. The most species‐rich ingroup, the subfamily Geoplaninae, is restricted to the Neotropics. The systematics of Geoplaninae remains uncertain. Unique features supporting the genera are scanty; moreover, parts of the known species have been poorly described, making comparative studies difficult. Likewise the evolutionary relationships among land planarians remain insufficiently understood. In the present study, a phylogenetic hypothesis for selected taxa of Geoplaninae based on the molecular data is presented and discussed in the light of morphological features. Our phylogenetic inference is based on the fragments of three nuclear regions (18S, 28S rDNA and EF‐1α) and a mitochondrial marker (cytochrome oxidase I) for which we considered three optimality criteria (parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference). Although our data provide little support for most basal nodes, our phylogenetic trees show a number of well‐supported clades, unveiling morphologically homogeneous groups. According to these results, we propose to separate Geoplana into Barreirana (formerly considered a subgenus), Cratera gen. n., Imbira gen. n., Matuxia gen. n., Obama gen. n. and Paraba gen. n., emend the diagnoses of Barreirana, Geoplana, Notogynaphallia, Pasipha and Xerapoa and review the classification of the species within these genera. For Geoplana goetschi sensu Marcus, (1951), a new name is proposed.

Estado do conhecimento dos macroturbelários (Platyhelminthes) do Brasil

In the last decades, international efforts have increased, with the aim of acquiring greater knowledge on worldwide biodiversity and to propose adequate conservation policies. Brazil has joined in these efforts, as is shown by recent publications on the state of knowledge of several taxa of organisms. The macroturbellarians (Polycladida and Tricladida, Platyhelminthes) are part of one of the less studied faunal groups, not only in Brazil but also in other regions of the world. In the present study we inventoried the knowledge on the diversity of Brazilian macroturbellarians and make a comparison with that from the rest of the world. We also analyze the accomplishments of Brazilian taxonomists dealing with macroturbellarians, with regard to the world context. Our results show that almost all of the 246 described species are from the South-eastern and Southern regions. The number of species will increase significantly when new samples are undertaken in biomes and regions still little or non-sampled, as well as in already explored areas. Brazil is relatively well provided with specialists in relation to other countries. Nonetheless, in view of the high numbers of estimated diversity, new samples should concur with the academic formation of new taxonomists.

A new species of terrestrial planarian of the genus Notogynaphallia Ogren & Kawakatsu (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from south Brazil and some comments on the genus

A new species of Notogynaphallia Ogren & Kawakatsu, 1990, from Southern Brazil, is described. Notogynaphallia ceciliae sp. nov. has an elongated body with parallel margins and five dorsal dark longitudinal stripes on a yellowish ground. It possess branched efferent ducts, each branch opening separately into the anterior and median thirds of the long prostatic vesicle. Comparative commentaries on the most important characters of the external and internal morphology of the 23 species of the genus are also presented, so delimiting smaller inside groups.

Three new Brazilian species of the land planarian Choeradoplana (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplaninae), and an emendation of the genus

Three new Brazilian species of the neotropical land planarian genus Choeradoplana (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Continenticola: Geoplaninae) are described, making a total of nine species within the genus. All the new species share unique derived characters typical of the genus. Two of the new species exhibit important features representing morphological variations that were previously unknown for the genus: the dorsal cutaneous longitudinal muscle layer, as well as the ventral one, partially sunken into the parenchyma in one species, and the common ovovitelline duct approaching the copulatory apparatus ventrally in the other. As a consequence of these morphological variations, an emendation of the genus is proposed.

Colonization and extinction of land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant

Long-term assessments of species assemblages are valuable tools for detecting species ecological preferences and their dispersal tracks, as well as for assessing the possible effects of alien species on native communities. Here we report a 50-year-long study on population dynamics of the four species of land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) that have colonized or become extinct in a 70-year-old Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant through the period 1955–2006. On the one hand, the two initially most abundant species, which are native to the study site, Notogynaphalliaernesti and Geoplana multicolor have declined over decades and at present do not exist in the forest remnant. The extinction of these species is most likely related with their preference for open vegetation areas, which presently do not exist in the forest remnant. On the other hand, the neotropical Geoplaninae 1 and the exotic Endeavouria septemlineata were detected in the forest only very recently. The long-term study allowed us to conclude that Geoplaninae 1 was introduced into the study area, although it is only known from the study site. Endeavouria septemlineata, an active predator of the exotic giant African snail, is originally known from Hawaii. This land flatworm species was observed repeatedly in Brazilian anthropogenic areas, and this is the first report of the species in relatively well preserved native forest, which may be evidence of an ongoing adaptive process. Monitoring of its geographic spread and its ecological role would be a good practice for preventing potential damaging effects, since it also feeds on native mollusk fauna, as we observed in lab conditions.

Cytogenetic studies of two land-planarian species from Brazil: Geoplana marginata and Issoca rezendei (Tricladida, Terricola)

The chromosome complement and the C-banded karyotypes of specimens of Geoplana marginata auct. and of Issoca rezendei (Schirch) were investigated. The diploid and fundamental numbers of the two species were identical (2n = 14; FN = 28). Their karyotypes were similar except for the morphology of chromosome pair 6. Their C-banding patterns differed in quantity and localization of the constitutive heterochromatin. The similarity in karyotypes of these species support the hypothesis, proposed earlier on morphological grounds, that the genera Geoplana Stimpson and Issoca Froehlich are closely related. G. marginata and I. rezendei are the first land planarian species of the Neotropical Region to have their karyotypes described.

Reflections on the genus Amaga Ogren and Kawakatsu 1990, and description of a new genus of land planarian (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae)

Amaga amagensis, the type species of the genus Amaga, and Amaga bogotensis are re-described. Detailed analysis of the morphology of A. amagensis revealed important taxonomic features, such as testes located dorsally to the supraintestinal parenchymal muscular layer, and secretory accumulations opening through the lateral margins of the body. These characters, as well as other morphological features, are discussed, culminating in an emendation of the generic diagnosis of Amaga. Amaga bogotensis exhibits a characteristic set of morphological features, namely an eversible penis, a male atrium lined with large musculosecretory papillae, and independent muscular coats around both male and female atrium. Therefore, a new genus is proposed for this species.

Catálogo dos "Turbellaria" (Platyhelminthes) do Estado de São Paulo

A recent survey of the literature and databases on turbellarian fauna from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, yielded a total of 312 species (including Acoelomorpha, a new phylum) inhabiting marine, as well as freshwater, and terrestrial habitats. In 1999, approximately 333 species were registered. This higher number is related to a number of species synonymized thereafter, and probably related to lower accuracy of prior accounts. Nonetheless, the only two taxonomists studying this animal group in the State estimated a much higher actual number of species. In the State there are three scientific collections containing turbellarians, almost exclusively from terrestrial habitats.