Obama anthropophila

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Obama anthropophila
Obama anthropophila 1.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Family: Geoplanidae
Genus: Obama
Species:
O. anthropophila
Binomial name
Obama anthropophila
Amaral, Leal-Zanchet & Carbayo, 2015
Synonyms

Geoplana ladislaviisensu Froehlich, 1959 (in part)

Contents

Obama anthropophila is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is a very common land planarian in human-disturbed environments in southern and southeastern Brazil. [1]

Description

Obama anthropophila is a medium-sized land planarian with a lanceolate body. The largest specimens have a length of about 70 millimetres (2.8 in) or more. The dorsum varies from dark to light brown, becoming lighter towards the body margins. In some cases, the dorsum may be a greenish-brown. The ventral side is pale grey or brown and has a darker margin that is a continuation of the color of the dorsum. [1] It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Obama decidualis and Obama ladislavii , the main difference with the latter being the color.

Mature specimen of Obama anthropophila about to lay an egg case. The mature testes are clearly visible as two rows of irregular dark spots on the dorsum. Obama anthropophila pregnant.JPG
Mature specimen of Obama anthropophila about to lay an egg case. The mature testes are clearly visible as two rows of irregular dark spots on the dorsum.

The numerous of eyes of O. anthropophila are distributed marginally on the first millimeters of the body and posteriorly become dorsal, occupying almost the entire body width at the median third. Posteriorly they become less numerous. The dorsal eyes are surrounded by a region without pigmentation (halo), which can be visible on darker individuals through fine inspection as a set of small light dots. [1]

On fully mature specimens, two irregular rows of spots with a darker tinge may be seen on the first half of the body. Those rows are the many dorsal testicles visible through the body.

The sensory pits are simple invaginations arranged in a single row on the side of the body. The glandular margin composes two types of secretory cells, containing coarse erythrophil granules, or those that easily stain red, and xanthophil secretions, or those that easily stain yellow. Some cyanophil glands and fine granules are present as well. The pharynx is cylindrical. [1]

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Greek language words άνθρωπος (ánthropos), "man", and φίλος (fílos), "loved", in reference to the man-disturbed habitats where the type specimens were discovered.

Distribution

Obama anthropophila has been recorded in southern and southeastern Brazil, from São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul. It is mainly found in human-disturbed environments and at the border of native subtropical forests. [2]

Diet

In the laboratory, O. anthropophila captures and consumes small land gastropods, including some agricultural pests, such as Bradybaena similaris , Cornu aspersum and Deroceras laeve . [3] It also feeds on other land planarians, such as Luteostriata abundans , which probably constitute its main native prey, and invasive species, such as Dolichoplana carvalhoi and Endeavouria septemlineata . [3] [4] On rare occasions, it may even prey on other species of the same genus, such as Obama ladislavii . [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoplanidae</span> Family of flatworms

Geoplanidae is a family of flatworms known commonly as land planarians or land flatworms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoplaninae</span> Subfamily of flatworms

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.

<i>Luteostriata</i> Genus of flatworms

Luteostriata is a genus of land planarians from Brazil characterized by a yellow body with dark longitudinal stripes.

<i>Obama</i> (genus) Genus of worms

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.

<i>Paraba</i> Genus of flatworms

Paraba is a genus of land planarians from South America.

<i>Imbira</i> Genus of flatworms

Imbira is a genus of land planarians found in South America.

<i>Cratera</i> (flatworm) Genus of flatworms

Cratera is a genus of land planarians found in South America.

<i>Pasipha</i> Genus of flatworms

Pasipha is a genus of land planarians from South America.

<i>Endeavouria</i> Genus of flatworms

Endeavouria is a monotypic genus of land planarians from the Pacific region. It contains a single species, Endeavouria septemlineata.

<i>Obama ladislavii</i> Species of flatworm

Obama ladislavii is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is one of the most common land planarians in human-disturbed environments in southern Brazil and is easily identifiable by the green color of its dorsum.

<i>Luteostriata abundans</i> Species of flatworm

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.

<i>Obama ficki</i> Species of flatworm

Obama ficki is a large species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.

<i>Obama josefi</i> Species of flatworm

Obama josefi is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.

<i>Obama maculipunctata</i> Species of flatworm

Obama maculipunctata is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae.

<i>Obama nungara</i> Species of flatworm

Obama nungara is a species of land planarian in the family Geoplanidae. It is native to South America, but has been introduced in Europe.

<i>Cratera ochra</i> Species of flatworm

Cratera ochra is a species of land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is found in Brazil

<i>Matuxia</i> Genus of flatworms

Matuxia is a genus of land planarians from Brazil.

Obama decidualis is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is found within Brazil.

Cratera obsidiana is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is known from specimens found in the Turvo State Park in Brazil.

Pasipha carajaensis is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is found within Brazil.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Álvarez-Presas, Marta; Amaral, Silvana V.; Carbayo, Fernando; Leal-Zanchet, Ana M.; Riutort, Marta (2015). "Focus on the details: morphological evidence supports new cryptic land flatworm (Platyhelminthes) species revealed with molecules". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 15 (2): 379–403. doi:10.1007/s13127-014-0197-z. ISSN   1439-6092.
  2. ↑ Amaral, Silvana Vargas do; Hack, Ilana Rossi; Iturralde, Giuly Gouvêa; Leal-Zanchet, Ana Maria (2014). "Land Flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) in Remnants of Deciduous Forest in the Northeast Region Of Southern Brazil". Biota Neotropica. 14 (1): 1–6. doi: 10.1590/S1676-06020140045 . ISSN   1676-0603.
  3. 1 2 3 Boll, Piter Kehoma; Leal-Zanchet, Ana Maria (2016). "Preference for different prey allows the coexistence of several land planarians in areas of the Atlantic Forest". Zoology. 119 (3): 162–168. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2016.04.002. ISSN   0944-2006.
  4. ↑ Boll, Piter K.; Rossi, Ilana; Amaral, Silvana V.; Leal-Zanchet, Ana (2015). "A taste for exotic food: Neotropical land planarians feeding on an invasive flatworm". PeerJ. 3: e1307. doi: 10.7717/peerj.1307 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   4614845 . PMID   26500817. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
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