Species ID
OC-SP-0002653
Discovered
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Species ID
OC-SP-0002653
Provisional Species Name
Typhlopolycystis sp_IRLBB_00449
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Typhlopolycystis
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Order
Rhabdocoela
Family
Polycystididae
Genus
Typhlopolycystis
Taxonomic Remarks
The morphology of the male sclerotised structures in Typhlopolycystis sp.1 indicates its close relationship with the ‘coeca’ group within the genus Typhlopolycystis, which includes T. coeca, T. schockaerti, T. microphtalma, T. fonsecai, T. mediterranea, and T. norenburgi. Among these, only T. norenburgi possesses an accessory stylet type II (asII) bent at midlength, as in Typhlopolycystis sp. 1. However, the asII is slightly smaller in T. norenburgi (49 µm) than in Typhlopolycystis sp.1 (53 µm); in T. norenburgi it is narrower, and its distal half forms a semicircle, whereas in Typhlopolycystis sp.1 the distal portion of the asII is straight. Conversely, the prostate stylet type III (psIII) of T. norenburgi (25 µm) is longer than that of Typhlopolycystis sp.1 (20 µm). Furthermore, the psIII in T. norenburgi ends in a broad distal tip, whereas it tapers to a narrow, rounded tip in Typhlopolycystis sp.1.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Species of Typhlopolycystis without eyes and a relatively short proboscis. Prostate stylet type III measuring 20 µm in length, straight, and terminating in a narrow, rounded distal tip. The accessory stylet type II is 53 µm long, bent at approximately 90° at midlength to form an L-shape, distal half straight, and ends distally in a rounded tip. Both stylets are proximally connected by a ring.
Ecology
Medium-grained and well-sorted sand, 10 m deep, salinity 37 ‰.
Distribution
United States of America, Florida, 6.75 km SE from the mouth of Fort Pierce Inlet, 27.429300; -80.241083.
Scientific Name Authorship
Diez, Yander L.
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