Two new species of freshwater flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Continenticola) from South American caves

Autor(es)

Souza, Stella ^{[1, 2]} ; Morais, Ana Laura ^{[1, 2]} ; Bichuette, Maria Elina ^[3] ; Leal-Zanchet, Ana ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos, UNISI NOS, Inst Pesquisas Planarias, BR-93022000 Sao Leopoldo, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos, UNISI NOS, Programa Posgrad Biol, BR-93022000 Sao Leopoldo, RS - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, UFSCAR, Dept Ecol & Biol Evolut, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Zootaxa; v. 4092, n. 1, p. 107-121, MAR 15 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 6

Resumo

The diversity of freshwater triclads in the Neotropical region is considered to be low, but extensive areas of South America remain almost unexplored. Herein we describe two cave-dwelling, new species of Girardia, one from a transition zone of the Cerrado and Caatinga phytophysiognomies and the other from the Cerrado phytophysiognomy. The species from the Cerrado-Caatinga transition is a troglobite, eyeless and whitish; the species from the Cerrado area is possibly a troglophile, since it shows heavily pigmented body and eyes. Each species is easily recognized by a unique combination of features in its external morphology and copulatory apparatus. The two new species of Girardia show a restricted distribution, even the troglophile, and occur in caves without legal protection. Therefore, they must be considered as vulnerable organisms in a conservation context. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/08459-4 - As áreas cársticas de São Desidério, serra do Ramalho (sudoeste da Bahia) e São Domingos (nordeste de Goiás) representam hot spots de biodiversidade? Análise das comunidades cavernícolas e critérios para sua proteção
• Beneficiário: Maria Elina Bichuette
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular