Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 5695 No. 1: 22 Sept. 2025
Type: Monograph
Published: 2025-09-22
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5695.1.1
Page range: 1-70
Abstract views: 144
PDF downloaded: 7

Diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in Central America: annotated checklist with new records of native and introduced species from citizen science

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sistemática; Taxonomia Animal e Biodiversidade; Museu de Zoologia; Universidade de São Paulo. 04263-000 São Paulo; Brazil
Laboratorio de Entomología Forestal; Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. 67700 Linares; Mexico
Platyhelminthes Bipaliinae Geoplaninae Microplaninae Rhynchodeminae terrestrial flatworms

Abstract

The Neotropical ecozone is the most diverse region on the planet regarding land planarians. However, its northern part, especially Central America, has been only occasionally sampled, so its land planarian fauna remains mostly unknown. We compiled a list of records of land planarians in Central America, including both formally described species and records of undescribed species from literature and the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The compiled data includes at least 112 morphospecies, with 23 comparable to described species and 89 potentially new species. Four described and exotic species are recorded in Central America for the first time. Our survey demonstrates the high land planarian diversity across Central America, of which most species are yet to be described. We recommend joint efforts of local researchers with land planarian taxonomists to promote the study of this important invertebrate community.

 

References

  1. Almeida, A.L., Álvarez-Presas, M. & Carbayo, F. (2022) The discovery of new Chilean taxa revolutionizes the systematics of Geoplaninae Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 197 (4), 837–898. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac072
  2. Álvarez-Presas, M., Amaral, S.V., Carbayo, F., Leal-Zanchet, A.M. & Riutort, M. (2015) Focus on the details: morphological evidence supports new cryptic land flatworm (Platyhelminthes) species revealed with molecules. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 15 (2), 379–403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-014-0197-z
  3. Álvarez-Presas, M., Mateos, E., Tudó, À., Jones, H.D. & Riutort, M. (2014) Diversity of introduced terrestrial flatworms in the Iberian Peninsula: a cautionary tale. PeerJ, 2, e430. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.430
  4. Ball, I.R. & Reynoldson, T.B. (1981) British Planarians. Platyhelminthes: Tricladida. Keys and notes for the identification of the species. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 141 pp.
  5. Ball, I.R. & Sluys, R. (1990) Turbellaria: Tricladida: Terricola. In: Dindal, D.L. (Ed.), Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley & Sons, New York, New York, pp. 137–153.
  6. de Beauchamp, P. (1912) Planaires Terrestres des Broméliacées de Costa-Rica Recueillies par M. C. Picado. Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Genérale, 10 (1), 1–10.
  7. de Beauchamp, P. (1913) Planaires des Broméliacées de Costa Rica Recueillies par Mr C. Picado. Archives de Zoologie Paris, 51, 41–52.
  8. Boll, P.K. & Leal-Zanchet, A.M. (2016) Preference for different prey allows the coexistence of several land planarians in areas of the Atlantic Forest. Zoology, 119 (3), 162–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2016.04.002
  9. Boll, P.K., Lloncón, Y. & Almendras, D. (2023) Records of the land planarian Polycladus gayi (Tricladida, Geoplanidae) preying on black snails Macrocyclis peruvianus (Gastropoda, Macrocyclidae). Austral Ecology, 48 (8), 2239–2245. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13430
  10. Carbayo, F., Leal-Zanchet, A.M. & Vieira, E.M. (2001) Land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) as indicators of man-induced disturbance in a South Brazilian rainforest. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 131 (Supplement 1), 223–224.
  11. Cardoso, J.C.F., Carbayo, F. & Gonzaga, M.O. (2023) Land planarians (Platyhelminthes) also prey on web-building spiders. Neotropical Biology and Conservation, 18 (3), 157–162. https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.18.e103322
  12. Collantes, R.D., Santos-Murgas, A., Pitti, J., Jerkovic, M. & Caballero, M. (2022) Nuevo registro de la planaria terrestre exótica Bipalium kewense (Tricladida: Geoplanidae) en Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas, Chiriquí, Panamá. Peruvian Agricultural Research, 4 (1), 52–56. https://doi.org/10.51431/par.v4i1.762
  13. Collantes-González, R., Pittí-Caballero, J. & Samaniego, J. (2024) Nuevo registro de Dolichoplana striata Moseley, 1877 (Tricladida:Geoplanidae) en Cerro Punta – Chiriquí, Panamá. Memoria del IX Congreso Científico Internacional UNACHI, 2024, 114.
  14. Cseh, A., Carbayo, F. & Froehlich, E.M. (2017) Observations on food preference of Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes), with emphasis on Obama anthropophila, and their phylogenetic diversification. Zoologia, 34, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.34.e12622
  15. Du Bois-Reymond Marcus, E. (1953) Some South American triclads. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 25 (1), 65–78.
  16. Fuhrmann, O. (1914) Planaires terrestres de Colombie. Mémoires de la Société des sciences naturelles de Neuchâtel, 5 (2), 748–792.
  17. Gauthier, K. (2019) Evaluación del uso de plantaciones de teca (Tectona grandis) por la fauna local en la región de los municipios de Boaco, Camoapa y de Matiguás en relación con el manejo forestal. Revista Nicaraguense de Biodiversidad, 50, 3–53.
  18. Glaw, F., Mass, R., Glaw, T. & Schreiner, J. (2024) Non-native terrestrial planarian species in Germany and Austria, with first locality records of Caenoplana variegata for both countries. Spixiana, 47 (1), 113–118.
  19. von Graff, L. (1899) Monographie der Turbellarien. II. Tricladida Terricola (Landplanarien). Engelmann, Leipzig, 574 pp.
  20. Hyman, L.H. (1939) New species of flatworms from North, Central and South America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 86 (3055), 419–439. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.86-3055.419
  21. Hyman, L.H. (1941) Terrestrial flatworms from the Canal Zone, Panama. American Museum Novitates, 1105, 1–11.
  22. Hyman, L.H. (1955) Miscellaneous Marine and Terrestrial Flatworms from South America. American Museum Novitates, 1742, 1–33.
  23. Hyman, L.H. (1957) A few turbellarians from Trinidad and the Canal Zone, with corrective remarks. American Museum Novitates, 1862, 1–8.
  24. Hyman, L.H. (1962) Some land planarians from Caribbean countries. American Museum Novitates, 2110, 1–25.
  25. Iwai, N., Sugiura, S. & Chiba, S. (2010) Prey-tracking behavior in the invasive terrestrial planarian Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida). Naturwissenschaften, 97 (11), 997–1002. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-010-0717-4
  26. Jaskuła, R., Sulikowska-Drozd, A., Jabłońska, A., Banaś, K. & Rewicz, T. (2019) Undesirable immigrants: hobbyist vivaria as a potential source of alien invertebrate species. PeerJ, 7, e7617. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7617
  27. Jones, H.D., Mateos, E., Riutort, M. & Álvarez-Presas, M. (2020) The identity of the invasive yellow-striped terrestrial planarian found recently in Europe: Caenoplana variegata (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888) or Caenoplana bicolor (Graff, 1899)? Zootaxa, 4731 (2), 193–222. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4731.2.2
  28. Jones, H.D. & Sterrer, W. (2005) Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, with three new species) and nemertines of Bermuda. Zootaxa, 1001 (1), 31–58. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1001.1.3
  29. Justine, J.-L., Gastineau, R. & Winsor, L. (2024) Land flatworms (Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in France and French overseas territories: ten years of research. Zoologia, Curitiba, 41, e24004. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-4689.v41.e24004
  30. Kawakatsu, M., Sluys, R. & Ogren, R.E. (2005) Seven new species of land planarian from Japan and China (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Bipaliidae), with a morphological review of all Japanese bipaliids and a biogeographic overview of Far Eastern species. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 135 (1), 53–77.
  31. Lago-Barcia, D., Álvarez-Presas, M., Riutort, M., Oceguera-Figueroa, A. & Carbayo, F. (2023) Phylogenetic relationships of the Geoplaninae land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) assessed with a total evidence approach, with the description of a new species of Gigantea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 184, 107750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107750
  32. Luis-Negrete, L.H., Brusa, F. & Winsor, L. (2011) The blue land planarian Caenoplana coerulea, an invader in Argentina. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 82 (1), 287–291. https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2011.1.450
  33. de Luna, M. & Boll, P.K. (2023) An annotated checklist of terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) from Mexico, with new records of invasive species from a citizen science platform and a new nomen dubium. Zootaxa, 5297 (4), 518–532. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5297.4.3
  34. de Luna, M., García-Barrios, R., Ovalle, P. & Boll, P.K. (2022) New records of invasive hammerhead flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae, Bipaliinae) from Mexico using a citizen science platform, with an identification key to the species found in North America. Check List, 18 (5), 925–935. https://doi.org/10.15560/18.5.925
  35. Mateos, E., Jones, H.D., Riutort, M. & Álvarez-Presas, M. (2020) A new species of alien terrestrial planarian in Spain: Caenoplana decolorata. PeerJ, 8, e10013. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10013
  36. Mateos, E., Sluys, R., Riutort, M. & Álvarez-Presas, M. (2017) Species richness in the genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Microplaninae) in Europe: as yet no asymptote in sight. Invertebrate Systematics, 31 (3), 269–301. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS16038
  37. Mori, E., Magoga, G., Panella, M., Montagna, M., Winsor, L., Justine, J.-L., Menchetti, M., Schifani, E., Melone, B. & Mazza, G. (2021) Discovering the Pandora’s box: the invasion of alien flatworms in Italy. Biological Invasions, Biological Invasions, Alien Floras and Faunas 14, 24, 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02638-w
  38. Murchie, A.K. & Gordon, A.W. (2013) The impact of the ‘New Zealand flatworm’, Arthurdendyus triangulatus, on earthworm populations in the field. Biological Invasions, 15 (3), 569–586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0309-7
  39. Negrete, L., Gira, R.D. & Brusa, F. (2019) Two new species of land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) from protected areas in the southern extreme of the Paranaense Rainforest, Argentina. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 279, 38–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2019.01.002
  40. Ogren, R.E. (1991) Land Planarians from Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 110 (1), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/3226737
  41. Ogren, R.E. (1995) Predation behaviour of land planarians. Hydrobiologia, 305 (1–3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036370
  42. Ogren, R.E. & Kawakatsu, M. (1987) Index to the species of the genus Bipalium (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola). The Bulletin of Fuji Women’s College, Series 2, 25, 79–119.
  43. Ogren, R.E. & Kawakatsu, M. (1988) Index to the species of the family Rhynchodemidae (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola) Part I: Rhynchodeminae. The Bulletin of Fuji Women’s College, Series 2, 26 (2), 39–91.
  44. Ogren, R.E. & Kawakatsu, M. (1989) Index to the species of the family Rhynchodemidae (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola) Part II: Microplaninae. The Bulletin of Fuji Women’s College, Series 2, 27 (11), 53–111.
  45. Ogren, R.E. & Kawakatsu, M. (1990) Index to the species of the family Geoplanidae (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola) Part I: Geoplaninae. The Bulletin of Fuji Women’s College, Series 2, 28, 79–166.
  46. Ogren, R.E. & Kawakatsu, M. (1991) Index to the species of the family Geoplanidae (Turbellaria, Tricladida, Terricola) Part II: Caenoplaninae and Pelmatoplaninae. The Bulletin of Fuji Women’s College, Series 2, 29 (2), 35–58.
  47. Silva, M.S., Willemart, R.H. & Carbayo, F. (2018) Sticky flatworms (Platyhelminthes) kill armored harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) but are not immune to the prey′s weapons. Journal of Zoology, 306 (2), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12570
  48. Sluys, R. (1999) Global diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola): a new indicator-taxon in biodiversity and conservation studies. Biodiversity & Conservation, 8 (12), 1663–1681.
  49. Sluys, R., Mateos, E., Riutort, M. & Álvarez-presas, M. (2016) Towards a comprehensive, integrative analysis of the diversity of European microplaninid land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Microplaninae), with the description of two peculiar new species. Systematics and Biodiversity, 14 (1), 9–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2015.1103323
  50. Sluys, R. & Riutort, M. (2018) Planarian Diversity and Phylogeny. In: Rink, J.C. (Ed.), Planarian Regeneration: Methods and Protocols. Humana Press, New York, New York, pp. 1–56. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008994925673
  51. Solà, E., Sluys, R., Riutort, M. & Kawakatsu, M. (2023) Molecular phylogenetics facilitates the first historical biogeographic analysis of the hammerhead worms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Bipaliinae), with the description of twelve new species and two new genera. Zootaxa, 5335 (1), 1–77. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5335.1.1
  52. Taylor, S.J., Heads, S.W., Jacoby, J., Hoese, G.B., Krejca, J.K., Beveridge, A.E. & Hager, K.D. (2013) 2012 Belize Biospeleology Expedition. Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, 85 pp.
  53. Vardinoyannis, K. & Alexandrakis, G. (2019) First record of the land planarian Caenoplana bicolor (Graff, 1899) (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Continenticola) in Greece. BioInvasions Records, 8 (3), 500–504. https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2019.8.3.04
  54. Vila-Farré, M., Sluys, R., Mateos, E., Jones, H.D. & Romero, R. (2011) Land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of two new species, with a discussion on ecology. Journal of Natural History, 45 (15–16), 869–891. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2010.536267
  55. Winsor, L. (1998) Aspects of taxonomy and functional histology in terrestrial flatworms (Tricladida: Terricola). Pedobiologia, 42, 412–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-4056(24)00463-3

How to Cite

Boll, P.K. & Luna, M.D. (2025) Diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in Central America: annotated checklist with new records of native and introduced species from citizen science. Zootaxa, 5695 (1), 1–70. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5695.1.1