| Polycladus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Polycladus gayi | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Genus: | Polycladus |
| Species: | P. gayi |
| Binomial name | |
| Polycladus gayi Blanchard, 1847 | |
| Synonyms | |
Geoplana gayiSchultze & Müller, 1857 | |
Polycladus is a genus of land planarians from South America, currently comprising a single species, Polycladus gayi, which occurs in the Valdivian Forest, Chile.
Polycladus is a very understudied genus of land planarians. It was defined as land planarians with a wide, flat and leaf-like body, having the entire ventral surface ciliated and with mouth and gonopore posteriorly shifted in relation to other land planarians. The copulatory apparatus has a well-developed permanent penis and the female canal enters the genital antrum ventrally. [1] This definition, however, is incomplete regarding all anatomical structures currently considered in the definition of planarian genera. [2]
The name Polycladus comes from Greek πολύ (many) + κλάδος (branch), referring to the branched intestine. Despite the name, Polycladus is not a species of the flatworm order Polycladida, but rather of Tricladida.
The specific epithet of the type-species, gayi, commemorates French naturalist Claude Gay. [3]
Geoplanidae is a family of flatworms known commonly as land planarians or land flatworms.
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.
Supramontana is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Choeradoplana is a genus of land planarians found in South America.
Paraba is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Cratera is a genus of land planarians found in South America.
Geoplana is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Pasipha is a genus of land planarians from South America.
Notogynaphallia is a genus of land planarians from South America.
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.
Gigantea is a genus of land planarians from the Neotropical realm.
Imbira guaiana is a species of land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is the type species of the genus Imbira and is found in Brazil.
Supramontana irritata is a species of Brazilian land planarian in the subfamily Geoplaninae. It is the type species of the genus Supramontana.
Matuxia is a genus of land planarians from Brazil.
Gusana is a genus of land planarians found in Chile.
Timyma is a genus of land planarians from Chile. It is the sole genus of the subfamily Timyminae.
Sarcoplanini is a tribe of land planarians in the subfamily Geoplaninae.
