Pericelis sp2

Version française...

This species has been observed on Reunion, Mayotte and Madagascar Islands


Order : Polycladida
Suborder : Cotylea
Superfamily : Pseudocerotoidea
Family : Pericelididae
Distribution : Indo West Pacific
Maximal size : 50 mm
Abundance :


Species characteristics :

Background body colour cream, light brown to brown with light rounded cream spots forming a reticulate pattern

Margin with smaller spots, central area with larger

Pericelis sp2
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Philibert Bidgrain
Reunion, La Saline lagoon, less 1 m, 28 February 2010, size : 40 mm

See more about : Pericelis sp2 variability in Southwest Indian ocean

See more about : Oviduct with eggs and gut in the flatworm Pericelis sp2

Remarks :

Newman (2003), considered this species as an undescribed species (Pericelis sp3)

In some website this species is identified as Pseudoceros pardalis, but it's a mis-identification

Bibliographic data :

The tentacles are well separated, simple, pointed folds of the anterior margin, with numerous small eyes. The tentacles may be difficult to distinguish from the ruffled margin
    Species of Pericelis are relatively large in size, extremely soft and have a ruffled margin
    This species looks like Pericelis sp1, but in Pericelis sp1 the background colour is darker and there are less cream white dots on the central area

References :

Marine flatworms of the world : Pseudoceros pardalis

Publications :

Newman, L.J. & Cannon, L.R.G. (2003). Marine Flatworms: the world of Polyclads. CSIRO Publishing : Melbourne 112 p

Other photos of Pericelis sp2 :

 

 

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga Tanaraki, less 1 m, 26 July 2008, size : 30-35 mm

The tentacles (a) are well separated, simple, pointed folds of the anterior margin, with numerous small eyes.

Background body colour light brown

Philibert Bidgrain

Mayotte, Mtsanga M'titi Sada, less 1 m, 16 July 2010, size : 40-50 mm

In this specimen, some small opaque white dots (a) are visible thought the notum... of this mature sexual specimen

Background body colour brown

 

 

 

Philippe Bourjon

Reunion, L'Hermitage lagoon, less 1 m, 16 June 2009, size : 40 mm

Background body colour red brown

 

 

Eva Fontaine

Mayotte, Mtsanga Tsoha, less 1 m, 31 July 2008, size : 30 mm

A specimen with numerous light rounded cream spots forming a reticulate pattern

Background body colour brown

 More photos from Indian Ocean

See more about : Pericelis sp2 variability in Southwest Indian ocean

See more about : Oviduct with eggs and gut in the flatworm Pericelis sp2

Mayotte, three Pericelis sp2 under a rock, at Mtsangea M'Titi Sada, by Philibert Bidgrain 

Madagascar, Pericelis sp2, at Nosy bé, by Philibert Bidgrain