Six new species of Proseriata (Plathelminthes) from eastern Australia

Abstract

Six new species of the suborder Proseriata are described: 'Monocelis rotulifer' sp. nov., 'Heteromonocelis australiensis' gen. nov. sp. nov., 'Archimonocelis rohdei' sp. nov., 'Bulbotoplana hearnsi' sp. nov., 'Cirroplana mansi' gen. nov. sp. nov. (Cirroplaninae subfam. nov.) and 'Lauraplana arrawarrensis' gen. nov. sp. nov. Three species of uncertain status (due to sexual immaturity) are also described - Archotoplaninae species 1, Cirroplaninae species 1 and Parotoplaninae species 1. All of these species inhabit sandy beaches of warm temperate New South Wales, Australia. 'Heteromonocelis' gen. nov., Monocelidinae, is established on the basis of stylet bearing accessory organs. The establishment of the subfamily, Cirroplaninae subfam. nov., is based on the presence of a cirrus in lieu of a sclerotized stylet and spines in an Otoplanidae specimen. It includes only the genus Cirroplana gen. nov. The genus 'Lauraplana' gen. nov. is established based on the possession of a separate male and female gonopore. Three species belonging to the family Otoplanidae are described ('Bulbotoplana hearnsi' sp. nov., 'Cirroplana mansi' gen. nov. sp. nov. (Cirroplaninae subfam. nov.)and 'Lauraplana arrawarrensis' gen. nov. sp. nov.), representing the first description of this family in Australia. Recommendations are given for future taxonomic sampling.