New species of the genus Parotoplana Meixner, 1938 (Proseriata, Otoplanidae) from southern Apulia (Italy)

Abstract

A survey of the genus Parotoplana Meixner, 1938 in southern Apulia (Italy) resulted in the finding of six species, four of which are new, and are formally described here. P. pythagorae sp. n. is distinguished by the presence of sharply triangular apices of companion spines of the stylet. P. spathifera sp. n. has the lowest number of spines (eight) known in the genus, arranged in four pairs of different morphology. P. terpsichore sp. n. differs from P. multispinosa Ax, 1956 by the number and shape of spines. P. jondelii sp. n. has unique broad spines and is equipped with bursal spines. The karyotypes of P. pythagorae sp. n. (n= 6), P. spathifera sp. n. (n= 9) and P. jondelii sp. n. (n= 6) are described. The remaining two species belong to the species-group of P. renatae Ax, 1956 / P. macrostyla Lanfranchi, 1978, and their identification on the basis of the limited sample available is problematical. The finding of numerous new species in an area as comparatively well studied as the central Mediterranean bears witness to our poor knowledge of the biodiversity of marine interstitial flatworms.