A New Species of Phaenoplana (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida) from the Ogasawara Islands

Researchers have identified and described Phaenoplana kopepe, a new species of polyclad flatworm from Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara Islands, marking the first record of Phaenoplana in Japan. This discovery is characterized by distinct morphological traits: an anteriorly curving vagina, well-separated gonopores, and a Lang’s duct shorter than the vagina. The study also provides a partial mitochondrial DNA barcode (610 bp) for the species, offering genetic insights to complement its taxonomic description.

Oya, Y., & Kajihara, H. (2019). A New Species of Phaenoplana (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida) from the Ogasawara Islands. Species Diversity, 24(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.12782/specdiv.24.1