Taxonomic and biological observations on the tiger flatworm,Maritigrella crozieri(Hyman, 1939), new combination (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida, Euryleptidae) from Florida waters

Abstract

The tiger flatwonn, Maritigrella crozieri (Hyman, 1939) (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida, Cotylea) new combination, is redescribed from eastern Florida and the Florida Keys. This marine flatwonn is one of the most common polyclads within warm temperate to tropical west Atlantic, yet it has been misidentified consistently as a pseudocerotid. Animals were kept alive in the laboratory for 3 weeks for biological observations. Findings indicated that these euryleptids employ hypodermic insemination, with multiple copulations occurring over several days. Sperm was transferred in sperm bundles bilaterally with little apparent damage to the epidermis of the copulating worms. Copulation sessions were variable and lasted an average of 15.4 min. In situ and laboratory observations indicated that M. crozieri fed exclusively on the mangrove ascidian Ecteinascidia turbinata Herdman, 1880, an individual consuming one prey zooid in an average of 17 min and an average of 19 zooids over 24 h.

When names are wrong and colours deceive: unravelling the Pseudoceros bicolor species complex (Turbellaria: Polycladida)

“…A group of similarly coloured, sympatric pseudocerotid polyclads has been reported from throughout the Caribbean and from Brazil (Verrill 1901;Hyman 1939;Marcus and Marcus 1968;Newman et al 2000;Newman and Cannon 2003;Quiroga et al 2004a,b;Bolaños et al 2007;Bahia and Padula 2009). Specimens in this group may exhibit dorsal surfaces that range from black through a darker brown or brownish-red to a light brown.…”

“…44, 72) list three different colour morphs for P. bicolor, ranging from a pale speckled brown dorsal colouration through an evenly dark brown form, to a morphotype resembling the original description of a black central area with lobes towards the margin. All colour variants are found in Dominica, West Indies (Newman and Cannon 2003). Additionally, the light brown colour morph has also been described from the Indian River Lagoon on the east coast of Florida (http://www.sms.si.edu/irLspec/Psuedo_bicolo.htm).…”

“…Faubel (1984) emended the species into the new genus Cryptoceros Faubel, 1984. However, the erection of this new genus is quite tenuous; at least one of its four species (Cryptoceros crozieri) is misplaced (now Maritigrella crozieri; Newman et al 2000). Hence, elucidating the taxonomic status of this species complex may also have implications for the genus Cryptoceros.…”

“…Neither Verrill (1901) nor Hyman (1939) mention this line. Newman and Cannon (2003;p. 44, 72) list three different colour morphs for P. bicolor, ranging from a pale speckled brown dorsal colouration through an evenly dark brown form, to a morphotype resembling the original description of a black central area with lobes towards the margin.…”

“…These same reasons also hold true for marine flatworms. Some colourful polyclad species have been shown to contain neurotoxins acquired while feeding on toxic tunicates and sponges (Schupp et al 1999), whereas others may use colour patterns to falsely advertise toxicity found only in their nudibranch mimics (Ang and Newman 1998;Newman and Cannon 2003).…”