''Polycladus'' 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 South America.
Description
''Polycladus'' is a very understudied genus of land planarians. It was defined as land planarians with a wide, flat and leaf-like body, having the entire ventral surface ciliated and with mouth and gonopore posteriorly shifted in relation to other land planarians. The
copulatory apparatus has a well-developed permanent penis and the female canal enters the genital antrum ventrally.
[Ogren, R. E. and Kawakatsu, M. (1990). ''Index to the species of the family Geoplanidae (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola) Part I: Geoplaninae.'' Bulletin of Fujis Women's College. 29: 79-166.] This definition, however, is incomplete regarding all anatomical structures currently considered in the definition of planarian genera.
Etymology
The name ''Polycladus'' comes from
Greek ''πολύ'' (many) + ''κλάδος'' (branch), referring to the branched intestine. Despite the name, ''Polycladus'' is not a species of the flatworm order
Polycladida
The Polycladida represents a highly diverse clade of free-living marine flatworms. They are known from the littoral to the Sublittoral zone, sublittoral zone (extending to the deep hot vents), and many species are common from coral reefs. Only a ...
, but rather of
Tricladida.
The specific epithet of the type-species, ''gayi'', commemorates French naturalist
Claude Gay
Claude Gay, often named Claudio Gay in Spanish texts, (March 18, 1800 – November 29, 1873), was a French botanist, naturalist and illustrator. This explorer carried out some of the first investigations about Chilean flora, fauna, geology and geo ...
.
[ ]
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Polycladus'':
* ''
Polycladus gayi''
Blanchard, 1847
* ''
Polycladus maculatus
''Polycladus'' is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Description
''Polycladus'' is a very understudied genus of land planarians. It was defined as land planarians with a wide, flat and leaf-like body, having the entire ventral surf ...
''
(Darwin, 1844)
* ''
Polycladus semilineatus
''Polycladus'' is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Description
''Polycladus'' is a very understudied genus of land planarians. It was defined as land planarians with a wide, flat and leaf-like body, having the entire ventral surf ...
''
(Darwin, 1844)
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q18583049
Geoplanidae
Rhabditophora genera