Pseudoceros, Noreña, 2017

Noreña, Carolina, 2017, The Polycladida (Platyhelminthes) of the Canary Islands. New genus, species and records, Zootaxa 4312 (1) : -

Pseudoceros n. sp.

( Figs. 7 and 11 M)

Material examined. Two specimens from Charco del Conde, La Gomera, Canary Archipelago ( Fig. 1 , G3; Table 1 and 2).

Type locality. Charco de El Conde , La Gomera, Canary Archipelago, intertidal zone.

Occurrence in the Canary Island. The organism was observed in intertidal in early spring time.

Description. Pseudoceros n. sp. is characterized by a greenish to greyish colour. A dark shade is observed in the anterior region of the body and a pale shade in the posterior region. The bulged dorsal median, a characteristic of Pseudoceros , also shows two shades: dark brown in the anterior region and pale, almost white, in the posterior region. The entire body margin is surrounded by a wide brown-coloured band that is darker anteriorly, with a whitish to celeste blue line. Small white spots are scattered over the dorsal surface ( Fig. 7 A). The distinct regions are further marked by a conspicuous line of V-shaped cluster of white spots ( Fig. 7 C). The pseudotentacles are simple, with small folds, and the cerebral eyes are a rounded arrowhead ( Fig. 7 B).

Unfortunately, specimens were not fixed for histological studies; therefore, details of its internal anatomy are unknown. Nonetheless, given the well-known homogeneity of reproduction organs within the genus Pseudoceros and the particular pigmentation and shape of Pseudoceros n. sp., a new species should be established.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Sampling station of the Canary Islands (for explanation of legends see Table 1).

FIGURE 7. Pseudoceros sp. (MNCN 4.01 / 1688 - 1877). A, B and C. In vivo, dorsal views; B. Anterior region, highlighting the pseudotentacles and the cerebral eyes; C. Dorsal view, highlighting the V-shaped line of white spots.

FIGURE 11. Species located in the Canary archipelago, in vivo. A. Eurylepta guayota n. sp. B. Prostheceraeus giesbrechtii Lang, 1884. C. Prostheceraeus roseus Lang, 1884. D. Enchiridium magec n. sp. E. Anonymus virilis Lang, 1884. F. Anonymus ruber n. sp. G. Pericelis cata Marcus and Marcus, 1986. H. Phrikoceros mopsus (Marcus, 1952) Quiroga, 2008. I. Pseudobiceros wirtzi Bahia and Schrödl, 2016. J. Pseudoceros maximus Lang, 1884. K. Pseudoceros velutinus (Blanchard, 1847) Lang, 1884. L. Pseudoceros mororum n. sp. M. Pseudoceros sp. N. Thysanozoon brocchii (Risso, 1818) Grube 1840. O. Acanthozoon aranfaibo n. sp. P. Yungia aurantiaca (Delle Chiaje, 1822) Lang, 1884. Q. Cestoplana rubrocincta (Grube, 1840) Lang, 1884. R. Multisepta fengari n. sp. S. Planocera pellucida (Mertens, 1833) Örsted, 1844.