Cheliplana gibarenha Diez & Reygel & Artois 2019, sp. n.

Cheliplana gibarenha sp. n.

(Fig. 2)

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9DDAFE63-D0D3-4B1E-A7B6-B6099BF61011

Material. One specimen studied alive and whole mounted, designated holotype (FMNH https://id.luomus.fi/ KV.608), collected in Bahía de Gibara (type locality) (March 26, 2017), sublittoral, fine-grained sand, 1 m depth, salinity 35 ‰.

Etymology. The epithet refers to the name given to the people that live in Gibara, where the type locality is situated.

Diagnosis. Species of Cheliplana with the proboscis hooks 14 µm long, curved, and the muscular hook supports 5 µm long. A single seminal vesicle located in the caudal end of the body. Seminal vesicle and copulatory bulb directed forward. Cirrus 140 µm long and 4 µm wide distally, with the distal 13-µm-long portion (the cirrus) armed with fine spines about 0.5 µm long.

Description. Animal 0.8 mm long, measured on the whole mount, translucent, without eyes. Proboscis (Fig. 2A: pr, 2B) with hooks (Fig. 2B: h) curved, 14 µm long; muscular hook supports (Fig. 2B: ms) 5 µm long. Spiny prepharyngeal cavity (Fig. 2A: pph) slightly longer than the pharynx. Mouth (Fig. 2A: m) opens just caudally from the postrostral bulb (Fig. 2A: pb).

Testis (Fig. 2A: t) located laterally from the pharynx, connected to the single seminal vesicle by a very long vas deferens. Seminal vesicle (Fig. 2A & 2 C–D: sv) located in the caudal body end. Seminal vesicle, including the seminal duct, 184 µm long and 28 µm wide at its widest point, with the seminal duct directed forwards. Copulatory bulb (Fig. 2 C–D) comprising the prostate vesicle and a cirrus, directed forward. Prostate vesicle (Fig. 2A & 2 C–D: pv) long-drawn. Cirrus (Fig. 2A & 2 C–D: ci) 140 µm long and 4 µm wide distally, with the distal 13-µm-long portion armed with small and fine spines (Fig. 2D: sp), about 0.5 µm long. Distal part of the copulatory bulb, surrounding the spiny cirrus, marked by a strong sphincter (Fig. 2D: sph).

Kidney-shaped ovary (Fig. 2A: ov) located at the level of the connection between the seminal vesicle and the prostate vesicle; it has the oocytes in a row, diminishing in diameter from the most distal to the most proximal end of the ovary. Bursa (Fig. 2A: b) located at the caudal end of the body; it seems to be bipartite and opens caudally into the vagina.