Pseudoceros goslineri

Pseudoceros goslineri, the Gosliner flatworm, is a marine flatworm species that belongs to the family Pseudocerotidae.

Pseudoceros goslineri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Rhabditophora
Order: Polycladida
Suborder: Cotylea
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Genus: Pseudoceros
Species:
P. goslineri
Binomial name
Pseudoceros goslineri
(Newman & Cannon, 1994)

Distribution

It is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coast of Africa to the Micronesia, including the Red Sea.

Habitat

External slope or top on coral reef.

Size

Up to 2 inches (5.1 cm).

Physical characteristics

"External anatomy: Flatworm with irregular and variable color pattern characterized mainly by a cream background mottled with orange, and pink and purple-red dots concentrated medially forming an elongated blotch. The margin consists of purple and pink irregular spots and dots that are more concentrated on the tentacles making the tips a little darker. The ventral side is light violet. Pseudotentacles formed by simple folds of the anterior margin with few marginal eyes. Cerebral cluster made of about 30 eyespots. Presence of a broad folded pharynx. Internal anatomy: The male reproductive system consists of unbranched vas deferens, an elongated seminal vesicle connected to a short and coiled ejaculatory duct, a round prostatic vesicle, and a small stylet housed in a deep antrum. The female system has a deep and tubular female antrum with curved cement pouches and a short vagina directed backwards and surrounded by the cement gland."[1]

Behaviour

Benthic, diurnals, because of its aposematic colors, it has no fear to crawl around to feed.

Feeding

Pseudoceros goslineri feeds on various colonial ascidians.

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References
  • Leslie Newman & Lester Cannon, "Marine Flatworms",CSIRO publishing,2003,ISBN 0-643-06829-5
  • Neville Coleman, "Marine life of Maldives",Atoll editions,2004,ISBN 187-6410-361
  • Andrea & Antonnella Ferrrari,"Macrolife",Nautilus publishing,2003,ISBN 983-2731-00-3
  1. Author Bolanos Marcela, extract from http://polycladida.lifedesks.org/pages/3088


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