Maritigrella, Newman, 2000

Newman, Leslie J., 2000, A new genus of euryleptid ¯ atworm (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) from the Indo-Paci ® c, Journal of Natural History 34, pp. 191-205 : 197-198

Maritigrella marygarsona e sp. nov.

(®gures 9±11, 23)

Material examined

HOLOTYPE: G211037, WM, 22 March 1995, reef slope, on sponge, 15 m, Heron Is., M. Garson. PARATYPE: G211036, LS, same data .

D escription

Background cream-white, semi-transparent with ®ne, narrow, black, transverse lines; lines become orange medially and join with a narrow orange median line; median line commences behind the cerebral eyespot and ends prior to the posterior margin (®gures 9, 23). Same striping ventrally. Body with few marginal ruƒes, sucker small, mid-body (®gure 10). Sizes: 35Ö 20 mm and 25 Ö 18 mm (mature).

Seminal vesicle large, oval (560 m m long); ejaculatory duct wide; prostate large, rounded oval (830 m m long); stylet long and wide (315 m m long Ö 70 m m wide), length 5 width ratio = 1 5 4.5 (®gure 11).

D iagnosis Cream with numerous ®ne, black, transverse lines joining orange median line.

Etymology Named in honour for Dr Mary Garson, who found these specimens.

Remarks

This species is similar to M. eschara , however, the lines are continuous (not broken and bifurcating) and there is a median orange line (not orange spots). Both animals were found together on a sponge.