Diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in Central America: annotated checklist with new records of native and introduced species from citizen science

The Neotropical ecozone is the most diverse region on the planet regarding land planarians. However, its northern part, especially Central America, has been only occasionally sampled, so its land planarian fauna remains mostly unknown. We compiled a list of records of land planarians in Central America, including both formally described species and records of undescribed species from literature and the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The compiled data includes at least 112 morphospecies, with 23 comparable to described species and 89 potentially new species. Four described and exotic species are recorded in Central America for the first time. Our survey demonstrates the high land planarian diversity across Central America, of which most species are yet to be described. We recommend joint efforts of local researchers with land planarian taxonomists to promote the study of this important invertebrate community.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zootaxa
Published
2025-09-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5695.1.1
Primary Topic
Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in Central America: annotated checklist with new records of native and introduced species from citizen science

Manuel de Luna, Piter Kehoma Boll
Zootaxa
Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
article

Diversity of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Geoplanidae) in Central America: annotated checklist with new records of native and introduced species from citizen science

Manuel de Luna, Piter Kehoma Boll
article en

Abstract

The Neotropical ecozone is the most diverse region on the planet regarding land planarians. However, its northern part, especially Central America, has been only occasionally sampled, so its land planarian fauna remains mostly unknown. We compiled a list of records of land planarians in Central America, including both formally described species and records of undescribed species from literature and the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The compiled data includes at least 112 morphospecies, with 23 comparable to described species and 89 potentially new species. Four described and exotic species are recorded in Central America for the first time. Our survey demonstrates the high land planarian diversity across Central America, of which most species are yet to be described. We recommend joint efforts of local researchers with land planarian taxonomists to promote the study of this important invertebrate community.

ZootaxaVol. 5695(1)
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (MX), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (BR), Institute of Entomology (CZ), Forest Research (GB), Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Universidade São Judas Tadeu (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
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