Microplana scharffi explained

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]

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 5and in length. The colour is whitish; in UK, yellow and cream are the most abundant colours but other colours are found.

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[3] and France.

Ecology and behavior

This flatworm is a carnivore, as all Geoplanidae. In UK, earthworms accounted for 87% of M. scharffi prey. [4]

Microplana scharffi can survive for long periods without food. One captive individual survived for 139 days, even laying a cocoon during this time.[4]

Molecular characterisation

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.

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

Notes and References

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

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