taxonID	type	description	language	source
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, CRBA 435, Llano del Berral (lat. 36.75428, long. - 5.45399; alt. approx. 657 m) in the central sector of the Sierra de Grazalema, Cádiz (Spain), 5 December 2004, sagittal sections on 1 slide. Paratypes: CRBA 436, ibid., sagittal section on 1 slide; CRBA 437, ibid., horizontal sections on 1 slide.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Microplana aixandrei sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its small size (up to 10 mm long), cylindrical body tapering anteriorly to a blunt point, bluntly pointed tail, and hyaline body surface. Regarding anatomical features, the species differs from its congeners in the following features: presence of two ventral testes on either side of the body; spherical penis bulb provided with a strong musculature and a distinct bulbar lumen; short and vertically oriented penis papilla; atrium divided in a cup-shaped cavity and a tubular distal cavity; wide and obliquely orientated bursal canal with a sphincter at its proximal end; a copulatory bursa without genito-intestinal connections; use of spermatophore in the transfer of sperm. Ecology and distribution. The species is known only from the type locality. In contrast to other Iberian terrestrial planarians, M. aixandrei can be considered a relatively common species of the soil fauna at the type locality. During mating the sperm is transferred to the copulatory bursa of the partner aggregated in a spermatophore.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the nickname of Vila’s grandfather, Miquel Farré Servent, who lived in a house known as “ casa l’Aixandre ” in his hometown Salàs del Pallars.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	description	Description. The living, sexually mature specimen measured 10 mm in length and about 0.5 mm in width, in elongated state (Fig. 2 A). The cylindrical body tapers anteriorly to a blunt point; tail also bluntly pointed. The body surface is hyaline and therefore the species appears white in colour due to the content of the intestine. The anterior and posterior ends, where the intestine is absent, are transparent. The ventral surface is hyaline. The hyaline colouration and the tiny size of the preserved specimens prevented us to adequately observe the creeping sole. The two small eyes (eye cup diameter 11 µm in sections) are located at a short distance in front of the brain (Fig. 2 B). In living and preserved specimens the eyes are only clearly visible under observation through a dissecting microscope. The anterior body region is filled with vacuolated parenchymal tissue (Fig. 2 B, C) that is reduced between the eyes. This region with vacuolated tissue extends backwards to the level of the testes. The adjacent ventral epidermis is also vacuolated and thick (about 25 – 30 µm in longitudinal sections while approximately 18 µm in the adjacent non-vacuolated ventral and dorsal epidermis); this vacuolated part of the epidermis (Fig. 2 C) extends to almost the level of the ovaries. The subepidermal longitudinal fibres of the body musculature are weak. In the ventral body region numerous longitudinal fibres are distributed in two parenchymal bands, which are especially strong over and under the ventral nerve cords. The scarce dorsal longitudinal parenchymal fibres are very weak and apparently discontinuous. The cylindrical pharynx is about one-eighth of the body-length (0.3 mm) and is situated in the posterior third of the animal, in an almost horizontal position. The outer epithelium, which is ciliated only at the posterior part of the pharynx, is underlain by a layer of longitudinal muscles, followed by a layer of circular muscles (Fig. 3 A), intermingled with some additional longitudinal fibres (not represented in Fig. 3 A). Close to the dorsal insertion of the pharynx, the inner epithelium is underlain by a thin layer of circular muscles that becomes thicker at the posterior end of the pharynx. At the tip of the pharynx this circular layer narrows again before reaching the lumen. This circular layer is followed by a thick layer of longitudinal muscles. The mouth is situated at the posterior portion of the pharyngeal pocket, close to the hind wall of the pharyngeal pouch. In specimen CRBA 435 the mouth is situated at 1.63 mm from the tip of the body and 0.15 mm from the gonopore. There are two pairs of ventrally located, oblong testes follicles, occupying about one-fourth of the dorsoventral diameter in the prepharyngeal part of the body. The testes are located in the posterior third of the anterior body region. In specimen CRBA 435 there is an additional immature third testis situated on one side of the animal. The strongly muscular, spherical penis bulb is covered with intermingled longitudinal and circular muscle fibres and is provided with a well-developed bulbar lumen (Fig. 2 D). This bulbar lumen tapers gradually to form an ejaculatory duct that opens at the tip of the penis papilla. The bulbar lumen and ejaculatory duct are lined with a nucleated epithelium that is underlain with a layer of circular muscle fibres. At the level of the posterior section of the pharyngeal pocket the thin vasa deferentia (diameter about 6 μm at the mid-level of the pharyngeal pocket) enlarge to form spermiducal vesicles, which narrow before entering the penis bulb. After having penetrated the penis bulb, the vasa deferentia increase in diameter, subsequently opening separately into the dorsal part of the seminal vesicle. The vertically oriented penis papilla is short and conical. The papilla is covered with a thin, nucleated epithelium that is underlain with a thick, subepithelial layer of circular muscle bound by a layer of longitudinal fibres. The atrium consists of a dorsal cup-shaped cavity and a distal tubular part. The lining epithelium of the atrium is underlain with a subepithelial circular muscle layer, thickened at the posterior wall of the tubular part, followed by a thin layer of longitudinal muscles. The ovaries are situated immediately above the ventral nerve cords. They lie at about one-third of the distance between the anterior end of the body and the root of the pharynx, occupying about one – fifth of the dorso-ventral diameter. The oviducts arise from the ventral side of the ovaries. In running backwards, the ducts follow the course of the ventral nerve cords. Behind the gonopore the ducts turn dorsally and open separately into the bursal canal. The copulatory bursa is an irregular sac-shaped structure, lined with tall vacuolated cells (Fig. 2 E). Several muscle fibres traverse in dorso-ventral direction the parenchyma between the posterior wall of the copulatory bursa and the adjacent intestinal branch (Fig. 2 F). The copulatory bursa is not connected with the gut. All three of the animals examined had in their copulatory bursa remnants of an irregular structure (37 x 21 µm in specimen CRBA 435) formed by a blue homogeneous substance partially enveloped by a thin, brown layer, most likely of sclerotic nature (Fig. 2 E). We have not found the origin of this substance in penial or atrial glands, but the colour and texture resemble the wall of a cocoon capsule. The location and nature of this structure suggest that it forms part of a spermatophore. The wide bursal canal, which receives the opening of the shell glands at the same level as it receives the oviducts, is lined with nucleated cells. The distal section of the oviducts, just before communicating with the bursal canal, also receives the secretion of the shell glands. The bursal canal is surrounded by a subepithelial layer of circular muscles and some scattered longitudinal muscles fibres. A sphincter, consisting of circular muscle fibres, surrounds the proximal section of the bursal canal (Fig. 2 F).	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	discussion	Discussion. Among the approximately 19 species of native land planarians known from Europe, three of which are newly reported in the present paper, M. aixandrei stands apart from the other species by a combination of external features and the anatomy of its genital apparatus. A hyaline body colouration is also found in M humicola Vedjovsky, 1890. However, this species shows a greenish anterior end, in contrast to M. aixandrei. Regarding anatomical features, M. humicola has dorsal testes and a genito-intestinal duct, while a copulatory bursa is absent (Schneider, 1935). In contrast, M. aixandrei presents ventral testes and a copulatory bursa, but lacks a genito-intestinal duct. A copulatory bursa that is devoid of any connection with the intestine occurs also in M. mahnerti Minelli, 1977, M. styriaca (Freisling, 1935), and M. grazalemica sp. nov. described below. Microplana mahnerti shows about twenty testes on each side of the body and an elongated penis papilla. In contrast, M. aixandrei shows two testes on each side of the body and a short and conical penis papilla. In M. mahnerti the bursal canal runs from the wall of the atrium parallel to the body surface and the oviducts open at its distal section. A sphincter is absent (Minelli, 1977). In contrast, in M. aixandrei the bursal canal is a obliquely running structure that receives the oviducts at its central region, while a sphincter is present in the proximal section of the canal. With respect to external features, M. mahnerti shows a grey colouration and big size (13 mm in preserved specimens), contrasting with the hyaline colouration and reduced size of M. aixandrei (about 4 mm in preserved specimens).	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFED31C85C7F8B4FD8CF967.taxon	description	There are various explanations for the vacuolation of the epidermis and parenchyma observed in M. aixandrei: vacuolation as an artefact of tissue fixation, processing and subsequent histological preparative treatment, apparent vacuolation due to the chromophobicity of the contents of the vacuoles, normally vacuolated planarian tissues, or vacuolation due to a disease process. A heavy infection of gregarine parasites can result in pathological peri-intestinal histolytic vacuolation of the mesenchyme. In this condition the epidermis is not involved; rather gregarine gamonts and zygocysts are present in the parenchyma surrounding the gut trunk, branches and diverticula, and gamonts are generally present in the gut lumen and mesenchyme (L. Winsor, personal communication). No gregarines were present in the specimens of M. aixandrei examined here, and both epidermis and parenchyma exhibit vacuolation. Normally vacuolated and vesicular tissues in planarians are associated with the reproductive organs, such as the phagocytic cells of sperm resorptive tissues in various bursae, vitelline follicles, ovarian tubae, and parovarian tissues (Cernosvitov, 1931; Sluys, 1989 b; Winsor, 2006). The vaculoate epidermis and parenchyma in M. aixandrei are located at the anterior tip and are not associated with reproductive structures. Nor do they exhibit the fine cytological characteristics of resorptive tissues. In addition to the routine oversight stain, sections were stained with the alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) technique to detect hexose-containing and sialic acid-containing mucosubstances, and alcianophilic carbohydrates with carboxylated and sulphate ester groups, which in the adhesive musculo-glandular organ in the terricolan Pimea can be weakly basiphil to chromophobic (Winsor, 1991). The AB-PAS gave negative results. It is, therefore, concluded that nothing is present in the vacuoles. The most likely explanation is that something has been lost during fixation or processing. Strongly acidic fixatives such as Heidenhain’s SUSA and Bouin’s dissolve or fail to stabilize certain secretory elements such as types of acidophil or “ zymogen ” granules (Drury & Wallington, 1980; Leal-Zanchet & Hauser, 1999). Nitric acid is a protein-coagulant fixative, a suitable concentration in a fixative for which is 0.5 M (Baker, 1958). However the concentration of nitric acid in Steinmann’s fixative is approximately 5 M, making the reagent very strongly acidic. When additional specimens of M. aixandrei are available they will be fixed in non-acid and formaldehyde-based fixatives for further histochemical studies.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFAD31385C7F8AEFBD5FDDF.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, CRBA 438, CRBA 439, Llano del Berral (lat. 36.75428, long. - 5.45399; alt. approx. 657 m) in the central part of the Sierra de Grazalema, Cádiz (Spain), 5 December 2004, sagittal sections on 2 slides. Other material examined: CRBA 440, CRBA 441, CRBA 442, Río Majaceite (lat. 36.77368, long. - 5.486587; alt. approx. 278 m) in the western part of the Sierra de Grazalema, Cádiz, 6 December 2004, sagittal sections on 3 slides.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFAD31385C7F8AEFBD5FDDF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. With respect to external features, M. grazalemica sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its size (12 mm), cylindrical body tapering anteriorly to a blunt point, bluntly pointed tail, brown dorsal surface with dark spots, and anterior end without conspicuous eyes. Anatomically the species is characterized by the presence of a large and rounded penis bulb, obliquely oriented conical penis papilla, a copulatory bursa not connected to the intestine and communicating with the atrium through a slightly obliquely orientated bursal canal. Ecology and distribution. The species is known only from two localities in the Sierra de Grazalema.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFAD31385C7F8AEFBD5FDDF.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the name of the mountain system from where the specimens were collected, i. e. the Sierra de Grazalema in Southern Spain.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFAD31385C7F8AEFBD5FDDF.taxon	description	Description. In elongated state the living, sexually mature specimens measured 10 – 12 mm in length, with a width of about 1 mm (Fig. 3 B). The preserved holotype specimen measured 3.45 x 0.68 mm. The cylindrical body tapers anteriorly and posteriorly to form blunt points. The dorsal surface is brown with darker spots all over the surface; the anterior end is dark brown. The anterior end of the body is slightly invaginated. The creeping sole is less than one-third of the body width. The two small eyes (eye cup diameter 13 – 16 Μm in sections) are located at a short distance anterior to the brain and are only clearly visible under observation through a dissecting microscope. In CRBA 440 - 442 a third reduced eye is present close to the anterior body margin. The subepidermical longitudinal fibres of the body musculature are weak. In the ventral body region numerous longitudinal fibres are especially present over and under the ventral nerve cords. The scarce dorsal longitudinal parenchymal fibres are very weak and apparently discontinuous. In specimen CRBA 438 - 439, the cylindrical pharynx is about one-eight of the total body length (0.3 mm) and placed in a posterior horizontal position, while in specimen CRBA 440 - 442 the pharynx represents about one-twelfth of the body length (0.4 mm) and is situated slightly posterior to the central region. The outer epithelium is ciliated and underlain by a layer of longitudinal muscles followed by a layer of circular muscles. Underneath the inner pharynx epithelium lies an outer layer of circular muscles, followed by an inner layer of longitudinal muscles fibres. The mouth is located in the middle of the pharyngeal pouch in specimen CRBA 438 - 439 at 2.2 cm from the tip of the body, but in specimen CRBA 440 - 442 it is situated in the posterior portion of the pharyngeal pocket, somewhat anterior to the hind wall of the pharyngeal pouch at 2.7 cm from the tip of the body. In specimens CRBA 438 - 439 and CRBA 440 - 442 the gonopore is situated at 0.23 and 0.6 mm from the mouth, respectively. There are 13 to 15 testes situated on either side of the body (CRBA 438 - 439 and CRBA 440 - 442, respectively). The rounded or oval-shaped, irregularly sized follicles occupy approximately one-eight of the dorsoventral diameter and are arranged in ventral longitudinal rows, extending anteriorly from about the root of the pharynx up to two-fifth of the distance between the root of the pharynx and the ovaries. The vasa deferentia open separately into the bulbar lumen, which communicates with an ejaculatory duct that opens at the tip of the penis papilla (Fig. 4 A). The bulbar lumen and the ejaculatory duct are lined with a nucleated epithelium that is underlain with a layer of circular muscle fibres. The conical penis papilla has a relatively broad base. It has an oblique ventro-caudal orientation and in both specimens the tip projects into the bursal canal. The outer wall of the penis papilla is covered with a thin epithelium, which is underlain with a layer of circular muscles at its distal section; on the middle and more proximal parts of the papilla the circular muscle layer is considerably thicker and bounded by a layer of longitudinal muscles. The genital atrium is lined with a nucleated epithelium that is underlain with a subepithelial circular muscle layer, followed by a longitudinal one. The small ovaries are situated close to the ventral nerve cord, occupying about one-fifth of the dorso-ventral diameter. The ovaries are located at approximately one-third of the distance between the first testis and the brain. Somewhat posterior to the gonopore, the oviducts turn towards the middle of the body and open separately into the bursal canal. The copulatory bursa is rounded and slightly flattened; it is lined with tall, vacuolated cells, with the nuclei mainly in peripheral position (Fig. 4 B). The bursa is connected with the atrium by means of a somewhat obliquely running bursal canal (Fig. 5 A, B). The lining epithelium of the canal bears long cilia and consists of nucleated cells surrounded by a subepithelial layer of circular muscle fibres. Shell glands could not be discerned.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFFAD31385C7F8AEFBD5FDDF.taxon	discussion	Discussion. This species can be distinguished from the other European native land planarians by a combination of external features and anatomical characteristics of the genital apparatus. The dorsal colouration pattern of M. grazalemica resembles that of M. nana and M. gadesensis sp. nov, the latter described below. However, in both M. nana and M. gadesensis a copulatory bursa is absent. There are three European species that are provided with a copulatory bursa and lack a genito-intestinal duct, viz. M. mahnerti, M. styriaca, M. aixandrei. In M. mahnerti the bursal canal runs parallel to the body surface and the oviducts open at its most distal end. In contrast, in M. grazalemica the bursal canal is an obliquely running structure with the opening of the oviducts at its central region. (Minelli, 1977). In M. styriaca the penis bulb is very large and elongated, while an expanded bulbar lumen is absent, in contrast to the rounded penis bulb from M. grazalemica that is provided with a distinct bulbar lumen. In M. styriaca the oviducts form a short common oviduct that enters the bursal canal (Freisling, 1935), contrasting with the oviducts of M. grazalemica, which open separately into the bursal canal. Differences between M. aixandrei and M. grazalemica were detailed above.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFF6D31685C7F9FCFB63F841.taxon	materials_examined	Material: Holotype, CRBA 443, CRBA 444, Llano del Berral (lat. 36.75428, long. - 5.45399; alt. aprox. 657 m) in the central part of the Sierra de Grazalema, Cádiz (Spain), 5 December 2004, sagittal sections on 2 slides. This specimen was accidentally broken in two pieces while it was being embedded in paraffin. Paratype: CRBA 445, ibid., sagittal sections on 1 slide.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFF6D31685C7F9FCFB63F841.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Microplana gadesensis sp. nov. can be distinguished anatomically from its congeners by a muscular penis bulb provided with a very thick layer of circular muscle fibres, rounded bulbar lumen, large penis papilla provided with a wide ejaculatory duct, genito-intestinal duct that links the female genital duct to the gut, and absence of a copulatory bursa. Ecology and distribution. The species is known only from the type locality.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFF6D31685C7F9FCFB63F841.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The specific epithet is based on the name of the region where the specimens were collected, Cádiz, named Gades in Latin, in southern Spain.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFF6D31685C7F9FCFB63F841.taxon	description	Description. When the animals were fixed in the field and later prepared for sectioning, they were considered to be morphologically similar to M. grazalemica, and therefore no particular attention was paid to their external features. It may be assumed that their external appearance did not differ much from that of M. grazalemica. From the sections of the holotype it could be determined that the animal was about 10 mm long. The two small eyes (eye cup diameter 16 µm in sections) are located at a short distance in front of the brain (Fig. 6) and are only clearly visible under observation through a dissecting microscope. The subepidermical longitudinal fibres of the body musculature weak. In the ventral body region numerous strong parenchymal longitudinal fibres are present especially dorsally and ventrally of the ventral nerve cords. This ventral musculature becomes especially strong at the cephalic region, where it attaches at the epithelium of an invaginated area (Fig. 6). This longitudinal musculature partially encloses the eyes. The short pharynx is about one-twelfth of the total body length (0.3 mm), its root being located slightly posterior to the middle of the body. The outer epithelium is ciliated from the root to the tip of the pharynx. It is underlain by a thin layer of longitudinal muscles followed by a thin layer of circular muscles. The inner epithelium of the pharynx is underlain with a very thick outer layer of circular muscles, followed by a longitudinal muscles layer, the latter in some areas intermingled with the circular layer. In specimen CRBA 445 the mouth is situated close to the posterior wall of the pharyngeal pouch at 2.5 cm from the tip of the body and 0.9 mm from the gonopore. The number of elongated testes varies from four (CRBA 445) to six (CRBA 443 - 444) on either side of the body. The follicles occupy approximately one-fourth of the dorso-ventral diameter and are arranged in longitudinal rows, extending from some distance behind the ovaries to the root of the pharynx. The penis bulb is provided with a rounded bulbar lumen, leading to a very wide ejaculatory duct that runs centrally through the penis papilla and gradually narrows before opening at the tip of the papilla (Fig. 7 A). The bulbar lumen and the ejaculatory duct are lined with a nucleated epithelium. The bulbar lumen is surrounded by a thick layer of circular muscle fibres that extends on the proximal part of the penis papilla; this coat of circular muscle is highly developed on the ventral side of the seminal vesicle. The large and elongated penis papilla is highly muscular; it is oriented parallel to the body surface. At the level of the penis bulb, the two vasa deferentia turn dorsally and open separately into the anterior portion of the bulbar lumen. The penis papilla projects into the female genital atrium. The gonopore opens into the mid-ventral section of the atrium. The small ovaries occupy one-fifth of the dorso-ventral diameter, lying on top of the ventral nerve cords. The ovaries are located at approximately one-sixth of the distance between the brain and the root of the pharynx. The oviducts arise from the ventral side of the ovaries. The rather narrow female genital duct is provided with distinct cilia and receives the openings of the oviducts at its posterior end. The duct is lined with nucleated epithelium that is underlain with a thick, subepithelial layer of circular muscles followed by a layer of longitudinal muscle fibres. The female genital duct of specimen CRBA 445 receives the openings of the shell glands anteriorly to the openings of the oviducts. Secretion granules are present in the same area in the holotype, but not the glands itself. A long genito-intestinal duct arises from the distal end of the female genital duct (Fig. 7 B) and immediately recurves to run approximately parallel to the dorsal wall of the atrium, subsequently communicating with the gut. The genito-intestinal duct is lined with a ciliated epithelium and is surrounded by a layer of circular muscles (Figs. 8 A, B). The wall of the elongated atrium is lined with a thin epithelium, provided with a thin circular muscular layer, surrounded by a thin longitudinal layer of muscles.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
03D287BAFFF6D31685C7F9FCFB63F841.taxon	discussion	Discussion. Microplana gadesensis can be distinguished from the other known native European land planarians species by the anatomy of its copulatory apparatus. Regarding the external features, similar body colouration is found in M. nana and M. grazalemica. However, M. nana and M. grazalemica lack a genito-intestinal duct and also the thick layer of circular muscle fibres around the bulbar lumen. Among the known European species of Microplana a genito-intestinal duct has been reported also for M. humicola, M. pyrenaica, M. howesi (Scharff, 1900), M. giustii Minelli, 1976, M. henrici (Bendl, 1908), M. attemsi (Bendl, 1909), M. peneckei (Meixner, 1921), M. scharffi (von Graff, 1899), M. monacensis (Heinzel, 1929), and M. terrestris. However, M. humicola presents a hyaline colouration (Schneider, 1935), instead of the pigmented dorsal colouration pattern of M. gadesensis. With respect to anatomical features, M. humicola has two testes on either side of the body, while its penis papilla is vertically oriented, in contrast to the 4 - 6 testes and horizontally oriented penis papilla of M. gadesensis. M. pyrenaica and M. howesi are bigger species (up to 5 cm long) with a poorly developed penis papilla (Minelli, 1977), in contrast to the large and well defined papilla of M. gadesensis. In M. giustii, the testes are present in a postpharyngeal position (Minelli, 1976), contrasting with the prepharyngeal testes of M. gadesensis. M. henrici, M. attemsi, and M. peneckei show atrial folds (Minelli, 1977), whereas atrial folds are absent in M. gadesensis. In M. scharffi the vasa deferentia fuse to a common vas deferens at the base of the penis papilla (Ball & Reynoldson, 1981). In M. gadesensis the vasa deferentia open into the bulbar lumen, far anterior to the root of the penis papilla. With respect to external features, M. scharffi is a very long (maximum 90 mm) animal with a pale colouration, whereas M. gadesensis is shorter and with darker colouration. In M. monacensis (Heinzel, 1929) and M. terrestris (Minelli, 1977) a bursa is present, whereas such a structure is absent in M. gadesensis.	en	Vila-Farré, Miquel, Mateos, Eduardo, Sluys, Ronald, Romero, Rafael (2008): Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) from the Iberian Peninsula: new records and description of three new species. Zootaxa 1739: 1-20, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.181468
