The freshwater planarianDugesiasicula Lepori from Sardinia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

✍ Scribed by Maria Pala; RosaAlba Vacca; Salvatore Casu; Giacinta Stocchino

• Book ID: 104614034
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 489 KB
• Volume: 310
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-5141
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00015533

✦ Synopsis

Fissiparous strains of freshwater triclads of the Dugesia gonocephala group were collected from 12 localities in Sardinia all situated not more than 5 kilometers from the coast. Some environmental factors and the sexual status of the specimens were noted at the time of collection. During the laboratory rearing 30% of individuals of each strain became sexual (ex-fissiparous individuals). All the examined strains showed common karyological and morphological characteristics suggestive of the species Dugesia sicula Lepori.The chromosome complement, which was a constant 27+2-3 B chromosomes, was classified as aneutriploid, due to its clearly documented characteristics. The fissiparous populations of D. sicula appear to have a high degree of tolerance to variations in environmental factors, especially temperature. Within the D. gonocephala group this species has the broadest distribution in the Mediterranean region.