Prosthiostomum cf trilineatum Yeri & Kaburaki 1920

Version française...

This species has been observed on Reunion Island


Order : Polycladida
Suborder : Cotylea
Superfamily : Euryleptoidea
Family : Prosthiostomidae
Distribution : Indo West Pacific
Maximal size : 60 mm
Abundance :


Species characteristics :

Body extremely elongate and narrow, rounded anteriorly, tapering posteriorly, semi-transparent, flesh coloured with distinct white median line bordered by orange stripes that join posteriorly

Anterior transverse orange stripe across the cerebral eyes

prosthiostomum cf trilineatum
Showing species characteristics...

Photo Christophe Cadet
Reunion, Etang salé, on the rocky coast, less 1 m, 9 February 2010, size : 35 mm

Remarks :

This specimen looks like specimens of P. cf trilineatum in Newman, 2003. But in Discover life and Marine flatworms of the world, this kind of specimens are identificated as P. trilineatum...

Bibliographic data :

Colour pattern distinct, although the intensity of the colour may vary
   They have eyes in two cerebral clusters or fan-like clusters over the head region
   No head tentacles or marginal pseudotentacles.
   Habitat : Found on the reef crest under rocks and rubble
   This species is similar to Prosthiostomum trilineatum but there are some differences :

 

P. trilineatum

P. cf trilineatum

Median lines

Orange median line bordered by black stripes that join posteriorly

White median line bordered by orange stripes that join posteriorly

Anterior transverse stripes

White and black or only black in our specimen

Orange

References :

Publications :

Faubel, (1984) : The Polycladida, Turbellaria. Proposal and establishment of a new system. Part II. The Cotylea . Mitteilungen des hamburgischen zoologischen Museums und Instituts 80. 189–259
    Newman, L.J. & Cannon, L.R.G. (2003). Marine Flatworms: the world of Polyclads. CSIRO Publishing : Melbourne 112 p
    Yeri, M. & Kaburaki, T. (1920). Notes on two species of Japanese polyclad Turbellia. Annotationes Zoologicae Japonenses 9: 591–598

Other photos of Prosthiostomum cf trilineatum :



 More photos from Indian Ocean