| Microplana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Microplana robusta | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Subfamily: | Microplaninae |
| Genus: | Microplana Vejdovsky, 1890 |
| Type species | |
| Microplana humicola Vejdovsky, 1890 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Microplana is a genus of land planarians found in Europe and Africa. [1]
Species of the genus Microplana are characterized by having an elongate, rounded body and generally only two eyes. The copulatory apparatus has a permanent conical penis with a muscular bulbus projecting into a short atrium. A genito-intestinal canal or a bursa copulatrix is usually present, connecting the intestine to the female atrium. [2]
Species of Microplana are adapted to different habitats. Most species occur in temperate forests, including beech, oak, pine and mixed forests, and seem to prefer neutral to basic soils, with pH values above 6. [3] However, there are species adapted to drier habitats, such as the African savanna. [4]
All Microplana species are carnivores, feeding on other invertebrates. Some are active predators, [5] while others are mainly scavengers. [6]
The genus Microplana includes the following species: [1] [7] [8]
Dugesia is a genus of dugesiid triclads that contains some common representatives of the class Turbellaria. These common flatworms are found in freshwater habitats of Africa, Eurasia, and Australia. Dugesia is best known to non-specialists because of its regeneration capacities.
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.
Dugesiidae is a family of freshwater planarians distributed worldwide. The type genus is Dugesia Girard, 1850.
Girardia is a genus of freshwater planarians belonging to the family Dugesiidae.
Microplaninae is a subfamily of land planarians.
Neppia is a genus of dugesiid triclad that is found in South America, Subantarctic region, Africa, Tasmania and New Zealand.
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.
The reproductive system of planarians is broadly similar among different families, although the associated structures can vary in complexity.
Bipaliinae is a subfamily of land planarians found mainly in Madagascar, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, although some species have been introduced worldwide.
Choeradoplana is a genus of land planarians found in South America.
Notogynaphallia is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Rhynchodeminae is a subfamily of land planarians with a worldwide distribution.
Rhynchodemini is a tribe of land planarians in the subfamily Rhynchodeminae.
Caenoplanini is a tribe of land planarians in the subfamily Rhynchodeminae mostly found throughout the Australasian and Oceanian realms.
Caenoplana is a genus of land planarians from Australia and New Zealand.
Gigantea is a genus of land planarians from the Neotropical realm.
Othelosoma is a genus of land planarians found in Africa and India.
Humbertium is a genus of land planarians of the subfamily Bipaliinae.
Microplana robusta is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Microplaninae. It is found in Spain.