Cratera cryptolineata explained

Cratera cryptolineata is a species of land planarian found in Brazil.

Description

Cratera cryptolineata is a medium-sized land planarian with a lanceolate body, reaching about 50mm in length. The color of the dorsum is homogeneously dark brown with a thin median stripe occurring along the body that is only visible under the stereomicroscope. The ventral side is light brown.[1]

The several eyes of C. cryptolineata are distributed marginally in the first millimeters of the body and posteriorly become dorsal, occupying around one third of the body width.

Aside from coloration, C. cryptolineata can be distinguished from other members of Cratera by the clear halos of its eyes, a cylindrical pharynx, an almost horizontal prostatic vesicle, and a conical, symmetrical penis papilla that occupies the distal portion of the female atrium.

Etymology

The specific epithet cryptolineata comes from Greek κρυπτός (kryptos), hidden + Latin lineata, striped, and refers to the thin media stripe visible under the stereomicroscope.

Distribution

Cratera cryptolineata is known only from the Três Barras National Forest, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Notes and References

  1. Leal-Zanchet . Ana . Rossi . Ilana . Three new species of Cratera Carbayo et al., 2013 from Araucaria forests with a key to species of the genus (Platyhelminthes, Continenticola) . ZooKeys . 643 . 2017 . 1–32 . 1313-2970 . 10.3897/zookeys.643.11093. 28144173 . 5242264 . free . 2017ZooK..643....1R .