Cheliplana spuriaseminalis, Diez & Reygel & Artois, 2019

Diez, Yander L., Reygel, Patrick & Artois, Tom, 2019, Schizorhynchia (Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela) from eastern Cuba, with the description of fifteen new species, Zootaxa 4646 (1), pp. 1-30 : 6-8

Cheliplana spuriaseminalis sp. n.

( Fig. 4 )

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0BC1AB04-AAD1-46E4-BB15-ECA04C5AAA77

Material. Observations on two live animals, whole mounted afterwards, one of which is designated holotype ( FMNH https://id.luomus.fi/KV.610), the other in HU (X.1.05), collected in Bueycabón (type locality) (February 6, 2018), fine-grained sand with organic matter, 0.5 m depth, salinity 33 ‰.

Etymology. The epithet refers to the fact that only one of the seminal vesicles seems to be functional, the second being atrophied and empty.

Diagnosis. Species of Cheliplana with proboscis hooks 16 µm long and muscular supports 5 µm long. There are two seminal vesicles, one of which is atrophied. Copulatory bulb cylindrical and curved, 94 µm long and 16 µm wide. Cirrus unarmed, 31 µm long, distally widening. Bursa opens externally through a vagina.

Description. Animals 0.9–1 mm long (n = 2) measured on the whole mounts, pinkish coloured, without eyes. Proboscis ( Fig. 4B : pr, 4C) with curved hooks 16 µm long (n = 2); muscular hook supports 5 µm long (n = 3). Phar- ynx ( Fig. 4 A–B: ph) connects to the mouth through the prepharyngeal cavity ( Fig. 4B : pph); spiny prepharyngeal cavity twice as long as the pharynx.

Testis located caudally from the pharynx. Atrial organs located in the caudal fourth of the body. Two seminal vesicles open proximally into the copulatory bulb; one seminal vesicle is functional ( Fig. 4 D–E: fsv), filled with sperm, 116–119 µm long (x = 118 µm; n = 2), the other one seemingly atrophied ( Fig. 4 D–E: asv), empty, 32–40 µm long (x = 36 µm; n = 2). The testis apparently is not connected to the atrophied seminal vesicle. Copulatory bulb ( Fig. 4A : cb, 4E, 4D) cylindrical and curved, 83–105 µm long (x = 94 µm; n = 2) and 14–17 µm wide (x = 16 µm; n = 2); it comprises the prostate vesicle ( Fig. 4 D–E: pv), (an) accessory gland(s) ( Fig. 4 D–E: ag) and the cirrus ( Fig. 4 D–E: ci). Cirrus unarmed, 31 µm long (n = 2). It widens distally, where it is surrounded by longitudinal muscles.

Bursa and ovary caudally from the copulatory bulb. Bursa connects to the common atrium and opens externally through a vagina. The vaginal opening ( Fig. 4F : va) is located posteriorly to the common gonopore ( Fig. 4F : cg).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cheliplana spuriaseminalis sp. n.. A, general organisation. B, anterior end of the body. C, proboscis. D–E, copula- tory bulb. F, genital pores. A–B, from a live animal. C–F, from the holotype.