''Spathula'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
dugesiid
Dugesiidae is a family of freshwater planarians distributed worldwide (except Antarctica). The type genus
In biological taxonomy, the type genus (''genus typica'') is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family nam ...
triclad
Planarians (triclads) are free-living flatworms of the class Turbellaria, order Tricladida, which includes hundreds of species, found in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial habitats.pp 3., "Planarians (the popular name for the group as a whole ...
. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''
Dugesia
''Dugesia'' is a genus of freshwater planarians in the family Dugesiidae triclads and the type genus of this family. These common flatworms are found in freshwater habitats of Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. ''Dugesia'' is best known to non-spe ...
''. The name of the genus derives from the
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
, meaning "broad, flat piece".
Description
Specimens of this genus have a triangular head.
[Ball, I. R.: A contribution to the phylogeny and biogeography of the freshwater triclads (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria). Biology of the Turbellaria (Edited by: Riser NW and Morse MP). New York: McGraw-Hill New York 1974, 339-401.] Along with this, the genus was originally defined as planarians with "one atrium (undivided) around the penis, into which opens the
bursa stalk" and numerous
testes
A testicle or testis ( testes) is the gonad in all male bilaterians, including humans, and is homologous to the ovary in females. Its primary functions are the production of sperm and the secretion of androgens, primarily testosterone.
The ...
.
[Nurse, Frances R. 1950]
Freshwater triclads new to the fauna of New Zealand
''Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand'' 78(4): 410-417.
Species
The following species are recognised in the genus ''Spathula''
[*Tyler S, Schilling S, Hooge M, and Bush LF (comp.) (2006-2012) Turbellarian taxonomic database. Version 1.]
Database
:
* ''
Spathula agelaea''
Hay & Ball, 1979
* ''
Spathula alba''
Allison, 1997
* ''
Spathula camara''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula dittae''
Ball & Tran, 1979
* ''
Spathula foeni''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula fontinalis''
(Nurse, 1950)
* ''
Spathula gourbaultae
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula limicola''
(Nurse, 1950)
* ''
Spathula miserabile
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Sluys & Grant, 2006
* ''
Spathula musculosa
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Sluys & Grant, 2006
* ''
Spathula neara
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula ochyra
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball & Tran, 1979
* ''
Spathula schauinslandi
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
(Neppi, 1904)
* ''
Spathula simplex
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Sluys & Grant, 2006
* ''
Spathula truculenta
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula trunculata
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball, 1977
* ''
Spathula tryssa
''Spathula'' is a genus of dugesiid triclad. Its species are found in Australia and New Zealand.
Until 1977, ''Spathula'' was ranked as a subgenus of ''Dugesia''. The name of the genus derives from the Latin , meaning "broad, flat piece".
Desc ...
''
Ball, 1977
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3388165
Dugesiidae
Rhabditophora genera