The paper describes the first species of freshwater planarians collected from subterranean localities in northern Africa, represented by three new species of Dendrocoelum Ö rsted, 1844 from Tunisian springs. Each of the new species possesses a well-developed adenodactyl, resembling similar structures in other species of Dendrocoelum, notably those from southeastern Europe. Comparative studies revealed previously unreported details and variability in the anatomy of these structures, particularly in the composition of the musculature. An account of this variability is provided, and it is argued that the anatomical structure of adenodactyls may provide useful taxonomic information.
An intensive exploration of groundwater habitats in Tunisia led to the discovery of Typhlocirolana ichkeuli sp. nov., the first record of the genus from Tunisia. Typhlocirolana ichkeuli sp. nov. is characterised especially by the lack of a propodal organ and the shape and the number of plumose setae on the medial lobe of maxilla 2. T. ichkeuli sp. nov. shows clear affinities with T. fontis, another species from Algeria.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.