Abstract

The Chilean land planarian genus <i>Gusana</i> (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplaninae) currently comprises three species that were described in the 19th century. Four new species of the genus are described herein, namely <i>G. hualpensis</i> Carbayo, sp. nov., <i>G. lujanae</i> Almeida & Carbayo, sp. nov., <i>G. melipeucensis</i> Almeida & Carbayo, sp. nov. and <i>G. purensis</i> Bolonhezi, Almeida & Carbayo, sp. nov. An integrative taxonomy approach was adopted by combining morphological (anatomy, histology) and molecular (<i>COI</i> and <i>28S</i> genes) information. Additionally, the monophyletic status of <i>Gusana</i> is investigated and the species are delimited by a recently introduced molecular delimitation method based on pairwise genetic distances. All <i>Gusana</i> species are very similar in attributes such as body shape, dorsal colour pattern and internal organs, namely the pharynx and copulatory apparatus and only differ in the details. <i>Gusana</i> is retrieved as monophyletic and the molecular delimitation method recovered the same species recognised morphologically. A re-diagnosis of the genus and replacement of <i>G. lata</i> into <i>Pseudogeoplana</i> are also proposed. A new role of the penis papilla is also suggested based on the spermatophore found in <i>Gusana lujanae</i>.

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