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]
| Microplana scharffi | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Genus: | Microplana |
| Species: | M. scharffi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Microplana scharffi (Graff, 1899)
| |
Description
editMicroplana 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
editMicroplana 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
editThis flatworm is a carnivore, as all Geoplanidae. In 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
edit
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 ß-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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ 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) - ^ a b c McDonald, Jillian C.; Jones, Hugh D. (2007-03-26). "Abundance, reproduction, and feeding of three species of British terrestrial planarians: Observations over 4 years". Journal of Natural History. 41 (5–8). Informa UK Limited: 293–312. doi:10.1080/00222930701219149. ISSN 0022-2933.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c 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.