Pseudoceros scriptus

Pseudoceros scriptus is a marine flatworm species that belongs to the Pseudocerotidae family. This species is commonly known as the script flatworm.

Pseudoceros scriptus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Rhabditophora
Order: Polycladida
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Genus: Pseudoceros
Species:
P. scriptus
Binomial name
Pseudoceros scriptus
Newman & Cannon, 1998

Distribution

Tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Archipelago of Maldives to Australia.

Habitat

External slope or top of coral reefs.

Size

Up to 2 inches (5.1 cm).

Physical characteristics

"External anatomy: Cream yellowish background fading to white towards the margin with irregular black maculae on either side of the median line and an orange marginal band. The ventral side is cream becoming darker towards the margin and a wide orange marginal band. The pseudotentacles are formed by simple folds of the anterior margin. Cerebral cluster with about 40 eyespots. Pharynx is formed by elaborated folds. Internal anatomy: The male system is formed by unbranched vas deferens, an oblong seminal vesicle, an oval prostatic vesicle, and a short cuticular stylet housed in a deep, folded, and voluminous antrum. The female antrum is shallow with a narrow and short vagina surrounded by the cement glands."[1]

Behaviour

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

Feeding

Pseudoceros scriptus feeds on various colonial ascidians.

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Bibliographical 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/3134


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