Cratera assu is a species of land planarian belonging to the subfamily Geoplaninae.[1] It is known from specimens found in Serra da Bocaina National Park in Brazil.[2]

Cratera assu
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Family: Geoplanidae
Genus: Cratera
Species:
C. assu
Binomial name
Cratera assu
Araujo, Carbayo, Riutort & Álvarez-Presas, 2020

Description

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Cratera assu is a flatworm around 50–65 mm in length and 3–3.5 mm in width. The body is elongate and slightly lanceolated, with a rounded front tip, and a pointed back tip. Widest at the pharynx, the body narrows towards the front and back. The dorsal side of the body can vary in color from chestnut brown to black-brown. In the front tenth of the body, there is a submarginal stripe that is yellow-orange or grayish in color; towards the back, this stripe is marginal. The submarginal stripe is inconspicuous in some individuals. Some individuals have a thin grayish midline. The ventral side of the body can range from sand yellow to light ivory in color.[2]

Aside from its coloration and length, it is distinguished from other members of Cratera by having dorsal eyes, a bell-shaped pharynx, a horizontal penis papilla, a widened distal portion of the ejaculatory duct that occupies most of the penis papilla, and the lack of a common glandular ovovitelline duct.[2]

Etymology

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The specific epithet is derived from the Tupi language word assu, "large", in reference to the large size of the ejaculatory duct's distal dilation.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Cratera assu Araujo, Carbayo, Riutort & Álvarez-Presas, 2020". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  2. ^ a b c d Araujo, A. P. G.; Carbayo, F.; Riutort, M.; Álvarez-Presas, M. (2020). Five new pseudocryptic land planarian species of Cratera (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) unveiled through integrative taxonomy. PeerJ. 8: e9726. doi:10.7717/peerj.9726