Strongylostoma radiatum (Müller, 1774), Muller, 1774

Noreña, Carolina, Eitam, Avi & Blaustein, Leon, 2008, “ Microturbellarian ” flatworms (Platyhelminthes) from freshwater pools: New species and records from Israel, Zootaxa 1705, pp. 1-20 : 11-12

Strongylostoma radiatum (Müller, 1774)

Synonyms: Planaria radiata Müller, 1774 Fasciola radiata Müller, 1774

Turbella radiata Diesing, 1862

Mesostoma radiatum Diesing, 1862 Mesostoma rostratum Hallez, 1869 Mesostoma wandae Nasonof, 1877 Castrada radiata Graff, 1882

Castrada acuta Braun, 1885

Mesostoma herclotsiannum de Man, 1894 Castrada agilis Dorner, 1902

Locality. Temporary pools in Mount Kavul and Mount Shekhanya, Lower Galilee. Temporary, artificial pool in Hai Bar Carmel Nature Reserve.

Material. Many specimens, squash preparations, and sagittally-sectioned individuals, one of which is deposited in the Department of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, Israel, Catalogue Number VR-25082.

Ecological features. According to Schwank and Gamo (1987), Strongylostoma radiatum is a stenothermic species. In central Europe, Strongylostoma radiatum is a summer species characteristic of the vegetative areas of lentic waters ( Schwank, 1980). It can also be found frequently in plankton areas ( Luther, 1963). In Israel, Strongylostoma radiatum was found in the largest ponds of Mount Kavul and Mount Shekhanya during the spring (March 2002) and in an artificial pond in Hai Bar (March 2001, February–April 2002) (see TABLE 1 and Eitam et al., 2004).

Strongylosma radiatum is a well-known species from the freshwater environments of Europe ( Luther, 1963; Mack-Fira, 1974) and is also distributed in Africa and South America ( Noreña et al., 2003). It was reported from Israel for the first time by Eitam et al. (2004).