Microplana scharffi

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Microplana scharffi
Gastineau et al. Microplana scharffi - Figure 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Family: Geoplanidae
Genus: Microplana
Species:
M. scharffi
Binomial name
Microplana scharffi
(Graff, 1899)

Microplana scharffi is a species of free-living, terrestrial flatworm in the order Tricladida. It was first described in 1899 by the Austrian zoologist Ludwig von Graff. [1]

Contents

Description

Microplana scharffi, like all flatworms, is an unsegmented, soft-bodied bilaterian without a body cavity, and with no specialized circulatory or respiratory organs. [2] Like other members of the Geoplanidae, it is dorso-ventrally flattened and creeps along with the whole of its ventral surface in contact with the substrate. It is between 5 and 7 cm (2.0 and 2.8 in) in length. The colour is whitish; in UK, yellow and cream are the most abundant colours but other colours are found. [3]

Distribution

Microplana scharffi is native to Western Europe. It has been recorded in the UK and other countries of Europe including Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Madeira Island, Turkey [4] and France. [5]

Ecology and behavior

This flatworm is a carnivore, like all Geoplanidae. In the UK, earthworms accounted for 87% of M. scharffi prey. [3]

Microplana scharffi can survive for long periods without food. One captive individual survived for 139 days, even laying a cocoon during this time. [3]

Molecular characterisation

The mitogenome of Microplana scharffi Gastineau et al. Microplana scharffi - Figure 2.jpg
The mitogenome of Microplana scharffi

In 2024, a study described the complete mitogenome of Microplana scharffi, the two paralogous versions of its 18S gene, the elongation factor gene EF1α, and two genes involved in the regeneration process, coding for β-catenin-1 and adenomatous polyposis coli. The 15,297 bp mitogenome lacks a functional tRNA-Ala and has a mandatory alternative TTG start codon in its cox1 gene. [5]

The multiprotein phylogeny, inferred from mitogenome proteins, positioned Microplana scharffi as sister-group to the Bipaliinae. [5]

References

  1. ↑ Jones, HughD.; Webster, BonnieL.; Littlewood, D. TimothyJ.; Mcdonald, Jillian C. (2008-11-28). "Molecular and morphological evidence for two new species of terrestrial planarians of the genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes; Turbellaria; Tricladida; Terricola) from Europe". Zootaxa. 1945 (1). Magnolia Press. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1945.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334.
  2. ↑ Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology, 7th edition. Cengage Learning. pp. 227–232. ISBN   978-81-315-0104-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 3 McDonald, Jillian C.; Jones, Hugh D. (2007-03-26). "Abundance, reproduction, and feeding of three species of British terrestrial planarians: Observations over 4 years" (PDF). Journal of Natural History. 41 (5–8). Informa UK Limited: 293–312. doi: 10.1080/00222930701219149 . ISSN   0022-2933.
  4. ↑ Sluys, Ronald; Mateos, Eduardo; Riutort, Marta; Álvarez-presas, Marta (2016-01-02). "Towards a comprehensive, integrative analysis of the diversity of European microplaninid land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Microplaninae), with the description of two peculiar new species". Systematics and Biodiversity. 14 (1). Informa UK Limited: 9–31. doi:10.1080/14772000.2015.1103323. ISSN   1477-2000.
  5. 1 2 3 Gastineau, Romain; Murchie, Archie K.; Gey, Delphine; Winsor, Leigh; Justine, Jean-Lou (2024-10-15). "The terrestrial flatworm Microplana scharffi (Geoplanidae, Microplaninae): mitochondrial genome, phylogenetic proximity to the Bipaliinae and genes related to regeneration". Zootaxa. 5523 (2): 211–221. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5523.2.4 .
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