Increasing the species diversity of the genus Paraba (Platyhelminthes) with the description of two new species from the southern atlantic forest

Abstract

The genus Paraba Carbayo et al., 2013 currently includes 16 species of land flatworms, with a distribution restricted to the Brazilian biomes Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. However, recent ecological studies and inventories carried out in natural areas of southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina indicate the existence of species of the genus that are not yet described. In this study, we describe two new species of Paraba from areas of the southern portion of the Atlantic Forest, located in the Iguassu River Drainage Basin: Paraba smaragdina sp. nov., showing a disjunct distribution with records in Argentina and Brazil, and Paraba iguassuensis sp. nov. with records in the southern Brazilian state of Parana. Both species can be distinguished from their congeners, as well from each other, by colour pattern of the body combined with anatomical details of the copulatory apparatus. This contribution increases the species diversity of the genus in southern South America.