| Geoplana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geoplana vaginuloides | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Subfamily: | Geoplaninae |
| Genus: | Geoplana Stimpson, 1857 |
| Type species | |
| Planaria vaginuloides Darwin, 1844 | |
Geoplana is a genus of land planarians from South America.
The genus Geoplana was erected in 1857 by William Stimpson and included most land planarians with several eyes distributed along the body. [1] Species with only two eyes were placed in the genus Rhynchodemus , while species with a crescent-shaped head were placed in Bipalium .
In the same year, apparently unaware of Stimpson's paper, the naturalist Max Schultze, based on published information and new species collected in Brazil by the naturalist Fritz Müller, also erected a genus named Geoplana, but included all land planarians in it. [2] However, Stimpson's system prevailed.
During most of the 20th century, many new land planarian species, mostly from Australia and South America, were placed in Geoplana. In 1955, Eudóxia Maria Froehlich defined that Geoplana vaginuloides would be the type-species of Geoplana, as it was the first species listed by Stimpson. [3]
In 1990, Robert E. Ogren and Masaharu Kawakatsu published a review of the classification of land planarians and divided Geoplana in four genera: Geoplana, Gigantea , Notogynaphallia and Pasipha . Geoplana retained all species with dorsal testes, a protrusible penis and a female canal entering the genital antrum dorsally. Species with ventral testes, without a protrusible penis or with a female canal entering the genital antrum ventrally were placed in other genera. [4]
During the 21st century, molecular studies revealed that Geoplana sensu Ogren & Kawakatsu was still heterogeneous. A study published in 2013 by Carbayo et al., [5] based on molecular data, divided Geoplana in 6 genera: Geoplana, Barreirana , Cratera , Matuxia , Obama , and Paraba . Only three species remained as Geoplana, [6] along with several incertae sedis .
Currently, the genus Geoplana is characterized by having the features described by Ogren & Kawatasu (dorsal testes, a protrusible penis and a female canal entering the genital antrum dorsally) plus several others, such as a slender body with nearly parallel margins, a strongly convex dorsum, monolobulated eyes (i.e., simple and circular, with only one lobe), and a strong muscle tube around the intestine. [5] [6]
There are currently only thirteen species certainly belonging to Geoplana:
Also, there are several species currently considered incertae sedis:
Microplaninae is a subfamily of land planarians.
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.
Luteostriata is a genus of land planarians from Brazil characterized by a yellow body with dark longitudinal stripes.
Obama is a genus of land planarians from South America. It contains several species adapted to human-disturbed environments, including the only invasive land planarian native to the Neotropical realm, Obama nungara, which has been accidentally introduced in Europe.
The reproductive system of planarians is broadly similar among different families, although the associated structures can vary in complexity.
Cratera is a genus of land planarians found in South America.
Pasipha is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Polycladus is a genus of land planarians from South America, currently comprising a single species, Polycladus gayi, which occurs in the Valdivian Forest, Chile.
Notogynaphallia is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Eudóxia Maria Froehlich was a Brazilian zoologist.
Amaga is a genus of land planarians from South America.
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.
Gigantea is a genus of land planarians from the Neotropical realm.
Luteostriata graffi is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
Luteostriata ernesti is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
Gusana is a genus of land planarians found in Chile.
Liana is a genus of land planarians. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Liana guasa, which occurs in Chile.
Timyma is a genus of land planarians from Chile. It is the sole genus of the subfamily Timyminae.
Geoplanini is a tribe of land planarians in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
Geoplana mogi is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is found in areas within the Atlantic Forest in the municipalities of São Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil.