Species Prosthiostomum acroporae (Rawlinson, Gillis, Billiings & Borneman, 2011)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Amakusaplana acroporae Rawlinson, K.A., Gillis, J.A., Billings, R.E., Jr. & Borneman, E.H. 2011. Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae). Coral Reefs 30: 693-705 [Date published 3 April 2011] [696-701].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 2010.9.27.1 adult worm, wholemount (specimen obtained from personal aquarium), Virginia, United States of America.
  Paratype(s) BMNH 2010.9.27.2 adult worm, sagittal sections (material obtained from personal aquarium), Virginia, United States of America; BMNH 2010.9.27.3 adult worm, cross section (material obtained from personal aquarium), Virginia, United States of America; USNM USNM1153932 adult worm, sagittal sections (material obtained from personal aquarium), Virginia, United States of America
  Comment: Description based on examination of 7 adult specimens and 30 life history stages; embryos and hatchlings were reared by the authors.

  Type locality references:

  Rawlinson, K.A., Gillis, J.A., Billings, R.E., Jr. & Borneman, E.H. 2011. Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae). Coral Reefs 30: 693-705 [Date published 3 April 2011].

  Type host:

   Acropora spp. (type material obtained from a personal aquarium which contained multiple species of Acropora: A. valida, A. tortuosa, A. nana, A. tenuis, A. formosa, A. echinata, A. millepora and A. yongei)

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Rawlinson, K.A., Gillis, J.A., Billings, R.E., Jr. & Borneman, E.H. 2011. Taxonomy and life history of the Acropora-eating flatworm Amakusaplana acroporae nov. sp. (Polycladida: Prosthiostomidae). Coral Reefs 30: 693-705 [Date published 3 April 2011] [696-701]

 

Generic Combinations

• Prosthiostomum acroporae (Rawlinson, Gillis, Billiings & Borneman, 2011). —
  Litvaitis, M.K., Bolaños, D.M. & Quiroga, S.Y. 2019. Systematic congruence in Polycladida (Platyhelminthes, Rhabditophora): are DNA and morphology telling the same story? Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 186: 865–891 [882]

 

Introduction

Amakusaplana acroporae was described originally from material obtained from private aquaria in the United States of America (Rawlinson et al. 2011). Subsequent to the description, wild specimens were located on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (Rawlinson & Stella 2012). It is known to be a voracious predator of captive corals in aquarium systems, eating species of Acropora, sometimes leading to the death of the corals. It had been known as a pest of aquaculture systems for at least a decade prior to formal description of the species. The presence of coral nematocysts and coral-dwelling dinoflagellates in the gut and parenchyma of specimens of A. acroporae confirm the corallivorous diet of this species. Rawlinson & Stella (2012) suggest that A. acroporae may be an ecologically important stressor for wild corals in natural reef systems.

 

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Amakusaplana acroporae was described originally from material obtained from personal aquaria in the United States of America (Virginia). Embryos obtained from these specimens were reared for taxonomic investigations (Rawlinson et al. 2011). Subsequent to the description of this species, wild specimens of A. acroporae were discovered at Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (Rawlinson & Stella 2012).

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

General References

Rawlinson, K.A. & Stella, J.S. 2012. Discovery of the corallivorous polyclad flatworm, Amakusaplana acroporae, on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia -- the first report from the wild. PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) 7(8): e42240 [Date published 1 August, 2012]

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
20-May-2023	RHABDITOPHORA Ehlers, 1985	11-Apr-2023	MODIFIED	Dr Nicholas Wee (QM)
	"TURBELLARIA"	25-Jun-2015	ADDED	Dr Kathryn Hall