Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia

Polyclads are a diverse group of marine free-living flatworms, with some species adapted to life in floating Sargassum mats. Recent studies suggest that, rather than being inherently pelagic, these flatworms should be classified as "clinging fauna", as they rely on floating substra...

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Main Authors: Jorge Merchán Mayorga, Sigmer Quiroga, Isabella Posada, Katherin García-Ramos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2025-05-01
Series:Biodiversity Data Journal
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Online Access:https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/150699/download/pdf/
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author Jorge Merchán Mayorga
Sigmer Quiroga
Isabella Posada
Katherin García-Ramos
author_facet Jorge Merchán Mayorga
Sigmer Quiroga
Isabella Posada
Katherin García-Ramos
author_sort Jorge Merchán Mayorga
collection DOAJ
description Polyclads are a diverse group of marine free-living flatworms, with some species adapted to life in floating Sargassum mats. Recent studies suggest that, rather than being inherently pelagic, these flatworms should be classified as "clinging fauna", as they rely on floating substrates for habitat.This study documents, for the first time, the occurrence of Gnesioceros sargassicola and Chatziplana grubei in Sargassum along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. High-definition photographs of whole mounts and histological sections are provided for both species, along with detailed observations of their reproductive structures and 28S rDNA barcodes. These findings underscore the importance of exploring the fauna associated with Sargassum, contributing to a better understanding of polyclad distribution and raising the number of recorded species for Colombia to 26.
format Article
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institution DOAJ
issn 1314-2828
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Pensoft Publishers
record_format Article
series Biodiversity Data Journal
spelling doaj-art-8f9ef77e12c24a60a1548916295cf8df2025-08-20T02:56:09ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282025-05-011312310.3897/BDJ.13.e150699150699Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of ColombiaJorge Merchán Mayorga0Sigmer Quiroga1Isabella Posada2Katherin García-Ramos3Universidad del MagdalenaUniversidad del MagdalenaUniversidad del SinúUniversidad del SinúPolyclads are a diverse group of marine free-living flatworms, with some species adapted to life in floating Sargassum mats. Recent studies suggest that, rather than being inherently pelagic, these flatworms should be classified as "clinging fauna", as they rely on floating substrates for habitat.This study documents, for the first time, the occurrence of Gnesioceros sargassicola and Chatziplana grubei in Sargassum along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. High-definition photographs of whole mounts and histological sections are provided for both species, along with detailed observations of their reproductive structures and 28S rDNA barcodes. These findings underscore the importance of exploring the fauna associated with Sargassum, contributing to a better understanding of polyclad distribution and raising the number of recorded species for Colombia to 26.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/150699/download/pdf/Corales de Profundidad National Natural ParkCora
spellingShingle Jorge Merchán Mayorga
Sigmer Quiroga
Isabella Posada
Katherin García-Ramos
Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
Biodiversity Data Journal
Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park
Cora
title Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
title_full Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
title_fullStr Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
title_short Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia
title_sort free living clinging flatworms rhabditophora polycladida associated with sargassum from the caribbean coast of colombia
topic Corales de Profundidad National Natural Park
Cora
url https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/150699/download/pdf/
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