Pseudoceros goslineri
Pseudoceros goslineri, the Gosliner flatworm, is a marine flatworm species that belongs to the family Pseudocerotidae.
Pseudoceros goslineri | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Order: | Polycladida |
Suborder: | Cotylea |
Family: | Pseudocerotidae |
Genus: | Pseudoceros |
Species: | P. goslineri |
Binomial name | |
Pseudoceros goslineri (Newman & Cannon, 1994) | |
Distribution
It is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coast of Africa to the Micronesia, including the Red Sea.
Habitat
External slope or top on coral reef.
Size
Up to 2 inches (5.1 cm).
Physical characteristics
"External anatomy: Flatworm with irregular and variable color pattern characterized mainly by a cream background mottled with orange, and pink and purple-red dots concentrated medially forming an elongated blotch. The margin consists of purple and pink irregular spots and dots that are more concentrated on the tentacles making the tips a little darker. The ventral side is light violet. Pseudotentacles formed by simple folds of the anterior margin with few marginal eyes. Cerebral cluster made of about 30 eyespots. Presence of a broad folded pharynx. Internal anatomy: The male reproductive system consists of unbranched vas deferens, an elongated seminal vesicle connected to a short and coiled ejaculatory duct, a round prostatic vesicle, and a small stylet housed in a deep antrum. The female system has a deep and tubular female antrum with curved cement pouches and a short vagina directed backwards and surrounded by the cement gland."[1]
Behaviour
Benthic, diurnals, because of its aposematic colors, it has no fear to crawl around to feed.
Feeding
Pseudoceros goslineri feeds on various colonial ascidians.
References
- Leslie Newman & Lester Cannon, "Marine Flatworms",CSIRO publishing,2003,ISBN 0-643-06829-5
- Neville Coleman, "Marine life of Maldives",Atoll editions,2004,ISBN 187-6410-361
- Andrea & Antonnella Ferrrari,"Macrolife",Nautilus publishing,2003,ISBN 983-2731-00-3
- Author Bolanos Marcela, extract from http://polycladida.lifedesks.org/pages/3088
External links