| Endeavouria septemlineata | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Tribe: | Caenoplanini |
| Genus: | Endeavouria Ogren & Kawakatsu, 1991 |
| Species: | E. septemlineata |
| Binomial name | |
| Endeavouria septemlineata (Hyman, 1939) | |
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| Known distribution in dark blue | |
| Synonyms | |
(Species)
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Endeavouria is a monotypic genus of land planarians from the Pacific region. It contains a single species, Endeavouria septemlineata.
The genus Endeavouria is similar to other closely related genera, such as Caenoplana and Kontikia , but can be differentiated by the narrower creeping sole and a thick layer of longitudinal muscle fibers beneath the ventral nerve plate. [1]
Endeavouria septemlineata is a small land planarian, reaching about 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in length. The dorsal side may appear completely black at first sight, but a closer look reveals that it has a light-brown background. There are seven dark longitudinal stripes running along the body: one narrown dark-brown stripe, two lateral broad black stripes with diffuse margins, two paramarginal stripes and two marginal stripes. The dorsal color is visible between the median and lateral stripes and between the lateral and paramarginal stripes. The ventral side and the region between the paramarginal and marginal stripes is pale grey. The creeping sole is marked by numerous small dark spots. [2]
The several eyes are arranged in a single row along the body margins, being located over the marginal stripes. They are closer to each other in the anterior region and posteriorly they gradually become more spaced. [2]
The copulatory apparatus of E. septemlineata has a big ventral fold and a small intra-antral penis papilla.
The name Endeavouria honors the flagship HMS Endeavour commanded by James Cook in his first voyage of discovery to Australia and New Zealand. [1] The specific epithet septemlineata (Latin for "seven-striped") refers to the seven dark longitudinal stripes on the dorsum. [2]
The native place of Endeavouria septemlineata is still unknown. It was first found in Hawaii and later in several locations in Brazil. [3] As all land planarians in the tribe Caenoplanini, it is most likely originally from somewhere in the Pacific region.
In 2018, the species was recorded from Tahiti, French Polynesia, on the base of a single specimen. The identification was confirmed by examination of external and internal anatomy and DNA barcoding. [4]
In 2021, the species was found in Italy - that was its first record for Europe. [5]
Specimens of E. septemlineata show a gregarious behavior, gathering in groups of tens of individuals that remain hidden in the leaf litter and under rocks or fallen logs during the day. They feed on several invertebrate groups, such as arthropods and mollusks, which they may hunt, but most of the time they feed on dead animals, thus being mainly scavengers. [6]
It has been demonstrated that in Brazil several native land planarians feed on the introduced E. septemlineata, thus possibly controlling its spread as an invasive species. [6]
When attacked by a predator, individuals of E. septemlineata quickly move away. The most frequent strategy to escape is by tumbling, a behavior where the planarian lifts its posterior end and bends it forward until it touches the substrate ahead of the anterior end. If part of the body is trapped by the predator, it may escape by performing autotomy. [6]
The New Zealand flatworm is a large land flatworm native to New Zealand. It can vary from 5 mm in length when hatched to approximately 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in mature adults.
Geoplanidae is a family of flatworms known commonly as land planarians or land flatworms.
Bipalium is a genus of large predatory land planarians. They are often loosely called "hammerhead worms" or "broadhead planarians" because of the distinctive shape of their head region. Land planarians are unique in that they possess a "creeping sole", a highly ciliated region on the ventral epidermis that helps them to creep over the substrate. Native to Asia, several species are invasive to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Some studies have begun the investigation of the evolutionary ecology of these invasive planarians.
Caenoplana coerulea, known as the blue planarian or blue garden flatworm is a species of land planarian.
Platydemus is a genus of large predatory land planarians in the tribe Rhynchodemini.
Bipalium kewense, also known as the shovel-headed garden worm, is a species of large predatory land planarian with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is sometimes referred to as a "hammerhead flatworm" due to its half-moon-shaped head, but this name is also used to refer to other species in the subfamily Bipaliinae.
Bipalium adventitium, the wandering broadhead planarian, is a land planarian in the subfamily Bipaliinae. It has been accidentally introduced in the United States, where it is considered invasive.
Geoplaninae is a subfamily of land planarians endemic to the Neotropical region. Members of this family are sometimes referred to as the Neotropical land planarians. However, one species, Obama nungara has been introduced in Europe.
Diversibipalium multilineatum is a species of large predatory land flatworm.
Caenoplanini is a tribe of land planarians in the subfamily Rhynchodeminae mostly found throughout the Australasian and Oceanian realms.
Luteostriata abundans is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is a common species in human-disturbed areas in Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul.
Obama josefi is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
Obama nungara is a species of land planarian in the family Geoplanidae. It is native to South America, but has been introduced in Europe.
Luteostriata ceciliae is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
Marionfyfea adventor is a species of land planarian described in 2016 from specimens found in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France. However, since the species belongs to the genus Marionfyfea, of which the species are known only from subantarctic islands off New Zealand, it is probably an introduced species in Europe.
Kontikia is a genus of land planarians native from islands in the Indo-Pacific region, but several species have been introduced elsewhere.
Reomkago is a genus of land planarians from Australia.
Eudoxiatopoplana is a genus of land planarians from New Zealand, currently comprising a single species, Eudoxiatopoplana bilaticlavia, that occurs in Stewart Island. It is the sole genus of the tribe Eudoxiaotopoplanini.
Bipalium vagum, the wandering hammerhead worm, is a land planarian in the subfamily Bipaliinae. It has been accidentally introduced in the United States, Bermuda and various islands in the Caribbean and was recorded for the first time in Europe, in Italy, in 2021.
Vermiviatum covidum is a species of predatory land flatworm, found in France and Italy. The Holotype specimen is MNHN JL351B.
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