Species Apidioplana apluda Cannon, 1990

Museums

Regional Maps

• Apidioplana apluda Cannon, L.R.G. 1990. Apidioplana apluda n. sp., a turbellarian symbiote of gorgonian corals from the Great Barrier Reef, with a review of the Family Apidioplanidae (Polycladida: Acotylea). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 28: 435-442.

  Type data:

   Holotype QM GL10337 (ex Melithaea sp.; 3 m depth; iii.1978; coll. P. Alderslade; wholemount), Milln Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.
  Paratype(s) QM GL10338-42 (GL10338 (wholemount); GL10339-42 (serial sections, transverse and longitudinal sagittal)), Milln Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.

 

Introduction

This species is found in a symbiotic association with species of Melithaea Gray, 1870 (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Melithaeidae) on the Great Barrier Reef. All species of Apidioplana (of which there are four described; three from waters outside Australia) are found in association with these gorgonian soft corals. Specialised glands (called apioid organs) are found on the venter of all species of Apidioplana, and Cannon (1990) speculated that these glands may assist with adhesion to the corals in turbulent waters. Cannon further mentioned, however, that similar glands are observed in other groups of turbellarians where water turbulence is not an environmental factor, and suggested that the glands may more likely play a role in facilitating copulation between pairs.

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Only record of genus in Australia

Known only from type locality.

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
	"TURBELLARIA"	02-Aug-2012	ADDED	Dr Kathryn Hall