Two new species of flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida) from the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Two new species of polyclads are described from the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Specimens of Didangia carneyi sp. nov. and Oligocladus bath yrnodiensis sp. nov. were collected from the Louisiana slope at 610 m and 650 m, respectively. Didangia carneyi sp. nov. was collected from a natural wood fall, and is characterized by the presence of tentacular and cerebral eyes, an interpolated prostatic vesicle provided with two muscular accessory prosta tic vesicles, and large glandular cells that surround the male atrium. Oligocladus bathymodiensis sp. nov. has a mouth anterior to the brain, a few cerebral and pseudotentacular eyes, four pairs of intestinal branches, and a ventral anal pore. Specimens of this species were collected on the margin of a hypersaline cold seep in association with mussels Bathymodiolus childressi. All type material is deposited at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Publication Date

11-1-2008

Journal Title

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1017/S0025315408002105

Scientific Contribution Number

2355

Document Type

Article

Rights

©2008 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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