''Cephaloflexa'' is a genus of

land planarian Geoplanidae is a family of flatworms known commonly as land planarians or land flatworms. These flatworms are mainly predators of other invertebrates, which they hunt, attack and capture using physical force and the adhesive and digestive proper ...

s from Brazil.

Description

The genus ''Cephaloflexa'' is characterized by the presence of a cephalic retractor muscle not associated with cephalic glands. Due to this muscle, the head in species of ''Cephaloflexa'' is rolled upwards or backwards similarly to '' Choeradoplana''.Carbayo, F.; Leal-Zanchet, A. M. (2003). ''Two new genera of geoplaninid land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Terricola) of Brazil in the light of cephalic specialisations.'' Invertebrate Systematics. 17: 449-468. The main external feature to distinguish ''Cephaloflexa'' from ''Choeradoplana'' is the presence of two “cushions” on the ventral side of the head of the latter. The copulatory apparatus of ''Cephaloflexa'' lacks a permanent penis papilla.

Etymology

The name ''Cephaloflexa'' comes from the Greek word ''κεφαλή'' (head) and the Latin word ''flexus'' (bending).

Species

There are three described species in the genus ''Cephaloflexa'': *'' Cephaloflexa araucariana'' Carbayo & Leal-Zanchet, 2003 *''

Cephaloflexa bergi ''Cephaloflexa'' is a genus of land planarian Geoplanidae is a family of flatworms known commonly as land planarians or land flatworms. These flatworms are mainly predators of other invertebrates, which they hunt, attack and capture using ph ...

'' (Graff, 1899) *'' Cephaloflexa nataliae'' (Froehlich, 1959)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18345149 Geoplanidae Rhabditophora genera