Pseudobiceros pardalis ( Verrill 1900 )

Bahia, Juliana, Padula, Vinicius, Lavrado, Helena Passeri & Quiroga, Sigmer, 2014, Taxonomy of Cotylea (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida) from Cabo Frio, southeastern Brazil, with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 3873 (5), pp. 495-525 : 506-509

Pseudobiceros pardalis ( Verrill 1900)

( Fig. 10 )

Material examined. One specimen (MNRJ-PLAT 33, 55 x 37 mm) as sagittal sections of reproductive structures (24 slides) collected 16.10.2009 at Praia das Conchas, Cabo Frio, Brazil (22°52'33.05"S, 41°58'39.27"W). One specimen in ethanol 70% (MNRJ-PLAT 34, 64 x 36 mm). Collected 17.10.2009 at Paredão Sul, Ilha do Papagaio, Cabo Frio, Brazil (22°54'3.28"S, 41°59'1.21"W).

Distribution. Pseudobiceros pardalis was described from Bermuda ( Verrill 1900) and reported from Bahamas, south Florida and Panama ( Bolaños et al. 2007). It is herein reported for the first time from Brazil. This record expands the species distribution to a transition/limit zone between tropical (Tropical Southwestern Atlantic and Subtropical Southwestern Atlantic Provinces) and subtropical environments ( Spalding et al. 2007).

Diagnosis. Purple reddish dorsal surface with orange dots, delimited by black line; white dots also delimited by black line near the margin and body margin also with black surrounding line. Ventrally same pattern, light reddish purple, translucent above the reproductive organs and pharynx.

Taxonomic remarks. Our specimens are in agreement with the original description and the re-description ( Bolaños et al. 2007). We only disagree on the type of pseudotentacles that are formed by complex folds of the anterior margin, not simple folds as stated in the redescription. Our specimens have lighter coloration than the ones in the original description ( Verrill 1900) and redescription ( Bolaños et al. 2007), probably due to their larger size or to differences in the nutritional conditions of the animals. In the field, specimens were darker, as illustrated in Figure 10 . We also noted a black line surrounding the margin. Observed differences in coloration as reported in other papers can occur due to different specimen size (60 x 40 mm in the original description, from 25 x 14 mm to 40 x 25 mm in Bolaños et al. (2007) and 55 x 37 mm – 64 x 36 mm in our specimens).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Pseudobiceros pardalis (MNRJ-PLAT 34). A. in vivo dorsal view; B. MNRJ-PLAT 33, ventral view; C. detail from the anterior region showing tentacular eyespots; D. detail from the anterior region showing cerebral eyespots and pseudotentacles; E. detail from the ventral region showing gonopores and sucker; F. sagittal section of male reproductive structures; G. sagital section of female reproductive structures. ce: cerebral eyespots; cg: cement glands; fg: female gonopore; it: main intestine; ma: male atrium; mg: male gonopores; pa: penis papilla; ph: pharynx; pp: papillae; pt: pseudotentacles; su: sucker; te: tentacles eyespots; va: vagina.