A new species of land planarian (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) from the Amazonian lowlands, Peru

Abstract

Notogynaphallia urku sp. nov. is here described from the north-east region of Peru, in the Amazonian lowlands. Specimens of the new species are flattened, up to 120 mm long, and characterised by their dorsal colouration consisting of a median band of melon yellow, on which run two irregular longitudinal stripes formed by tiny jet black dots; cephalic region with two para-median stripes forming a ‘V’; two green beige lateral bands with jet black pigment covering a large part of these bands, in the form of large circular or irregular spots that reach the posterior end of the body; marginal stripes with antique pink pigment; ventral surface ivory with antique pink margins, except for the cephalic region, whose margins are jet black. This species represents the second record of Notogynaphallia in Peru and exhibits some similarities regarding external features and internal anatomy to species found in Paraguay and Argentina, with which it is compared.