A New Marine Triclad Ectoparasitic on Malaysian and Indonesian Horseshoe Crabs (Platyhelminthes, Turbellaria, Tricladida)

Ronald Sluys

doi:10.1163/26660644-05302003

Abstract

A new species of marine triclad, Ectoplana undata n. sp., ectoparasitic on the horseshoe crab Tachypleus gigas, is described. Cocoons of triclads were found on T. gigas as well as on the horseshoe crab Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda; since from the latter species no triclads were collected, it remains unknown whether these cocoons are those of E. undata or of another species. The genus Ectoplana, though poorly defined, is here retained, for stated reasons, pending a revision of the Procerodidae.

Highlights

Marine triclads are known to live ectoparasitically on the American HorseshoeCrab Limulus polyphemus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Chinese Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus (Leach, 1819)
Specimens of the last two species were searched for marine triclads and/or their cocoons
Horseshoe crab specimens from which cocoons and/or planarians were collected, are listed below with their sample locality, date of collection, and collector

Summary

Introduction

Marine triclads are known to live ectoparasitically on the American Horseshoe. Crab Limulus polyphemus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the Chinese Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus (Leach, 1819). These planarians live on the gills and legs of the crabs and profit from the food particles left over from the meals of the latter. From L. polyphemus no less than four species of triclads have been described (cf Wilhelmi, 1909). A different form of Bdelloura Candida or, perhaps, even a fifth species, has been found on an American Horseshoe Crab from North

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion