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New Zealand flatworm

January 01, 1970

See also: Australian flatworm

The New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus) is a large land flatworm native to New Zealand. It can vary from 5 mm in length when hatched to approximately 17 centimetres (6.7 in) in mature adults.

New Zealand flatworm
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Family: Geoplanidae
Genus: Arthurdendyus
Species:
A. triangulatus
Binomial name
Arthurdendyus triangulatus
(Dendy, 1896)[1] Jones, 1999 [2]
Synonyms
  • Artioposthia triangulata (Dendy, 1896)
  • Geoplana triangulata Dendy, 1896

The New Zealand flatworm is considered an invasive species in parts of Europe. This species is included since 2019 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list).[3] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union.[4]

Description edit

The ventral surface of the flatworm is a pale buff colour while the dorsal surface is dark brown. Young flatworms vary in colour from white to pale orange and develop their adult colouration as they grow.

During the day, flatworms can be found resting on the surface of soil underneath objects in close contact with the ground. They may also be found beneath the soil surface hunting for earthworms.

Reproduction involves the production of egg capsules of about 8 mm in length. The capsules are shiny, flexible and cherry red in colour at first and later darken to black after several days. After an unknown incubation period, several pale, tiny flatworms hatch out of the brittle capsule. One egg capsule is produced at a time with the bulge clearly visible in the dorsum of the adult worm.

Locomotion edit

When at rest, A. triangulatus rolls itself up and can appear like a very tiny Swiss roll. When it starts to move, it uncurls, at the same time as the circular muscles beneath the epidermal cells at the anterior end contract. The paler head-end extends forward, becoming as thin as the lead in a pencil. During movement it is repeatedly raised a couple of millimetres from the substratum before being lowered again. As movement continues, circular, diagonal and longitudinal muscles in the rest of the body contract. Friction between the ventral surface and the substratum is reduced by mucus produced by the ciliated epidermal cells. A. triangulatus can achieve speeds of up to 17 m per hour.[citation needed]

Invasive species edit

The New Zealand flatworm is an invasive species in Europe, feeding there almost exclusively on earthworms.[5][6] This degrades soil quality. European earthworm predators are reluctant to eat it although cases of frogs and beetle larvae consuming flatworms have been recorded. It has been seen in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland and the Faroe Islands. It might have arrived in the early 1960s, being first recorded in Belfast in 1963. The New Zealand flatworm is easily transported accidentally in plant pots in adult or egg form. They tend to be common in garden centres and may have arrived in the UK with exotic plants.

It has been suggested that they might thrive in parts of western Norway, southern Sweden, Denmark, Germany and northern parts of Poland, if they invade these regions.[7]

Similar invasions of other terrestrial planarians are occurring in many other parts of the world.[8] For example, planarians of the genus Bipalium are widely distributed in North America,[9] and planarians of the genus Platydemus on many islands in the Pacific.[10] Platydemus manokwari has recently (2013) been found in Europe.[11]

Molecular characterisation edit

The complete mitogenome of the New Zealand flatworm is 20,309 bp in length and contains repetitions that includes two types of tandem-repeats.[12] More than a quarter of the mitogenome is constituted by non-coding DNA. The mitogenome displays a 32-bp overlap between the genes ND4L and ND4, and the ND5 gene is terminated by the presence of tRNA-Ser. The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 gene is of unusual length, with a cox2 encoded protein 446 aa in length (compared to about 250 aa in other geoplanids); this characteristic of a very long cox2 is also found in other members of the subfamily Rhynchodeminae, to which A. triangulatus belongs.[12]

The genome of the New Zealand flatworm [12] includes two paralogous ribosomal RNA clusters (in contrast to other animals which have only one cluster), a unique characteristic found only in members of the family Geoplanidae and a few other families of flatworms.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Dendy, 1896 : Notes on New Zealand Land Planarians Part II. Transact New Zealand Inst 28 pp. 210-214. HTML  
  2. ^ Jones, H. D. (1999). "A new genus and species of terrestrial planarian (Platyhelminthes; Tricladida; Terricola) from Scotland, and an emendation of the genus Artioposthia". Journal of Natural History. 33 (3): 387–394. doi:10.1080/002229399300308. ISSN 0022-2933.
  3. ^ "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  4. ^ "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species".
  5. ^ Boag, B; K A Evans; G W Yeates; P M Johns & R Nielson (1995). (PDF). New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 22 (3): 311–318. doi:10.1080/03014223.1995.9518046. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-03-13.
  6. ^ Jones, H. D. 2005: Identification: British land flatworms. British Wildlife, 16, 189-194. Full text 2013-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Boag, B., Evans, K.A., Neilson, R., Yeates, G.W., Johns, P.M., Mather, J.G., and Christensen, O.M. (1995). The potential spread of terrestrial planarians Artioposthia triangulata and Australoplana sanguinea var. alba to continental Europe. Annals of Applied Biology 127: 385-390.
  8. ^ Ogren, R. E. and M. Kawakatsu. 1998. American Nearctic and Neotropical land planarian (Tricladida: Terricola) faunas. Pedobiologia 42 441-451.
  9. ^ Ducey, P. K., L-J. West, G. Shaw, J. DeLisle. 2005. Reproductive ecology and evolution in the invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium adventitium across North America. Pedobiologia 49:367-377.
  10. ^ Sugiura, S. 2010. Prey preference and gregarious attacks by the invasive flatworm Platydemus manokwari. Biological Invasions 12:1499-1507.
  11. ^ Justine, Jean-Lou; Winsor, Leigh; Gey, Delphine; Gros, Pierre; Thévenot, Jessica (2014). "The invasive New Guinea flatworm Platydemus manokwari in France, the first record for Europe: time for action is now". PeerJ. 2: e297. doi:10.7717/peerj.297. PMC 3961122. PMID 24688873.  
  12. ^ a b c Gastineau, Romain; Lemieux, Claude; Turmel, Monique; Otis, Christian; Boyle, Brian; Coulis, Mathieu; Gouraud, Clément; Boag, Brian; Murchie, Archie K.; Winsor, Leigh; Justine, Jean-Lou (2024-04-03). "The invasive land flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus has repeated sequences in the mitogenome, extra-long cox2 gene and paralogous nuclear rRNA clusters". Scientific Reports. 14 (1). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-58600-y. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 10991399. PMID 38570596.  

External links edit

 
Wikispecies has information related to Arthurdendyus triangulatus.
  • at the Central Science Laboratory (CSL), United Kingdom
  • Factsheet at the European Network on Invasive Alien Species

January 01, 1970
zealand, flatworm, also, australian, flatworm, arthurdendyus, triangulatus, large, land, flatworm, native, zealand, vary, from, length, when, hatched, approximately, centimetres, mature, adults, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia,. See also Australian flatworm The New Zealand flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus is a large land flatworm native to New Zealand It can vary from 5 mm in length when hatched to approximately 17 centimetres 6 7 in in mature adults New Zealand flatworm Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Platyhelminthes Order Tricladida Family Geoplanidae Genus Arthurdendyus Species A triangulatus Binomial name Arthurdendyus triangulatus Dendy 1896 1 Jones 1999 2 Synonyms Artioposthia triangulata Dendy 1896 Geoplana triangulata Dendy 1896 The New Zealand flatworm is considered an invasive species in parts of Europe This species is included since 2019 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern the Union list 3 This implies that this species cannot be imported bred transported commercialized or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union 4 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Locomotion 2 Invasive species 3 Molecular characterisation 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription editThe ventral surface of the flatworm is a pale buff colour while the dorsal surface is dark brown Young flatworms vary in colour from white to pale orange and develop their adult colouration as they grow During the day flatworms can be found resting on the surface of soil underneath objects in close contact with the ground They may also be found beneath the soil surface hunting for earthworms Reproduction involves the production of egg capsules of about 8 mm in length The capsules are shiny flexible and cherry red in colour at first and later darken to black after several days After an unknown incubation period several pale tiny flatworms hatch out of the brittle capsule One egg capsule is produced at a time with the bulge clearly visible in the dorsum of the adult worm Locomotion edit When at rest A triangulatus rolls itself up and can appear like a very tiny Swiss roll When it starts to move it uncurls at the same time as the circular muscles beneath the epidermal cells at the anterior end contract The paler head end extends forward becoming as thin as the lead in a pencil During movement it is repeatedly raised a couple of millimetres from the substratum before being lowered again As movement continues circular diagonal and longitudinal muscles in the rest of the body contract Friction between the ventral surface and the substratum is reduced by mucus produced by the ciliated epidermal cells A triangulatus can achieve speeds of up to 17 m per hour citation needed Invasive species editThe New Zealand flatworm is an invasive species in Europe feeding there almost exclusively on earthworms 5 6 This degrades soil quality European earthworm predators are reluctant to eat it although cases of frogs and beetle larvae consuming flatworms have been recorded It has been seen in England Scotland Northern Ireland The Republic of Ireland and the Faroe Islands It might have arrived in the early 1960s being first recorded in Belfast in 1963 The New Zealand flatworm is easily transported accidentally in plant pots in adult or egg form They tend to be common in garden centres and may have arrived in the UK with exotic plants It has been suggested that they might thrive in parts of western Norway southern Sweden Denmark Germany and northern parts of Poland if they invade these regions 7 Similar invasions of other terrestrial planarians are occurring in many other parts of the world 8 For example planarians of the genus Bipalium are widely distributed in North America 9 and planarians of the genus Platydemus on many islands in the Pacific 10 Platydemus manokwari has recently 2013 been found in Europe 11 Molecular characterisation editThe complete mitogenome of the New Zealand flatworm is 20 309 bp in length and contains repetitions that includes two types of tandem repeats 12 More than a quarter of the mitogenome is constituted by non coding DNA The mitogenome displays a 32 bp overlap between the genes ND4L and ND4 and the ND5 gene is terminated by the presence of tRNA Ser The cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 gene is of unusual length with a cox2 encoded protein 446 aa in length compared to about 250 aa in other geoplanids this characteristic of a very long cox2 is also found in other members of the subfamily Rhynchodeminae to which A triangulatus belongs 12 The genome of the New Zealand flatworm 12 includes two paralogous ribosomal RNA clusters in contrast to other animals which have only one cluster a unique characteristic found only in members of the family Geoplanidae and a few other families of flatworms See also editInvasive species of New Zealand origin Australian flatwormReferences edit Dendy 1896 Notes on New Zealand Land Planarians Part II Transact New Zealand Inst 28 pp 210 214 HTML nbsp Jones H D 1999 A new genus and species of terrestrial planarian Platyhelminthes Tricladida Terricola from Scotland and an emendation of the genus Artioposthia Journal of Natural History 33 3 387 394 doi 10 1080 002229399300308 ISSN 0022 2933 List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern Environment European Commission ec europa eu Retrieved 2021 07 26 REGULATION EU No 1143 2014 of the European parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species Boag B K A Evans G W Yeates P M Johns amp R Nielson 1995 Assessment of the global potential distribution of the predatory land planarian Artioposthia triangulata Dendy Tricladida Terricola from ecoclimatic data PDF New Zealand Journal of Zoology 22 3 311 318 doi 10 1080 03014223 1995 9518046 Archived from the original PDF on 2005 03 13 Jones H D 2005 Identification British land flatworms British Wildlife 16 189 194 Full text Archived 2013 10 14 at the Wayback Machine Boag B Evans K A Neilson R Yeates G W Johns P M Mather J G and Christensen O M 1995 The potential spread of terrestrial planarians Artioposthia triangulata and Australoplana sanguinea var alba to continental Europe Annals of Applied Biology 127 385 390 Ogren R E and M Kawakatsu 1998 American Nearctic and Neotropical land planarian Tricladida Terricola faunas Pedobiologia 42 441 451 Ducey P K L J West G Shaw J DeLisle 2005 Reproductive ecology and evolution in the invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium adventitium across North America Pedobiologia 49 367 377 Sugiura S 2010 Prey preference and gregarious attacks by the invasive flatworm Platydemus manokwari Biological Invasions 12 1499 1507 Justine Jean Lou Winsor Leigh Gey Delphine Gros Pierre Thevenot Jessica 2014 The invasive New Guinea flatworm Platydemus manokwari in France the first record for Europe time for action is now PeerJ 2 e297 doi 10 7717 peerj 297 PMC 3961122 PMID 24688873 nbsp a b c Gastineau Romain Lemieux Claude Turmel Monique Otis Christian Boyle Brian Coulis Mathieu Gouraud Clement Boag Brian Murchie Archie K Winsor Leigh Justine Jean Lou 2024 04 03 The invasive land flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus has repeated sequences in the mitogenome extra long cox2 gene and paralogous nuclear rRNA clusters Scientific Reports 14 1 doi 10 1038 s41598 024 58600 y ISSN 2045 2322 PMC 10991399 PMID 38570596 nbsp External links edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Arthurdendyus triangulatus Information about the flatworm at the Central Science Laboratory CSL United Kingdom Factsheet at the European Network on Invasive Alien Species Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Zealand flatworm amp oldid 1217397625, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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