Non-destructive imaging to describe a new species of Obama land planarian (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Author(s)

Carbayo, Fernando ; Francoy, Tiago M. ; Giribet, Gonzalo

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ZOOLOGICA SCRIPTA; v. 45, n. 5, p. 566-578, SEP 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

The land planarians in the genus Obama include the largest species of the Neotropical Geoplaninae. Morphological discrimination of Obama species can be difficult, as many species are morphologically similar and some present asymmetric - difficult to interpret - copulatory organs. New techniques are thus welcomed to provide faster species description and identification. Here, we study several specimens of Obama by means of mainly 2D and 3D CT-based images obtained through X-ray microcomputed tomography (CT) of a paratype, and, complementarily, histological sections of the holotype and a second paratype, which were digitized into virtual slides. Comparison of these images with traditional histological sections and descriptions of the known species of the genus allows us to conclude that our specimens constitute a new species, which we describe here. We further evaluate the phylogenetic placement of the new species using gene fragments from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and the nuclear elongation factor-1. Raw and derivative CT data and virtual histological sections were deposited in an open repository (GigaDB) and are freely available. This work leads us to conclude that CT constitutes a relatively fast, inexpensive non-destructive method that produces results comparable to those of traditional histology, and is thus amenable for describing flatworm species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13661-8 - Taxonomic revision of the land planarians of Geoplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)
• Grantee: Fernando Jesús Carbayo Baz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants