Species ID
OC-SP-0002655
Discovered
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Species ID
OC-SP-0002655
Provisional Species Name
Typhlopolycystis sp_IRLBB_00906
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
Typhlopolycystis sp.5 is readily placed within the ‘coeca’ group of the genus Typhlopolycystis based on the morphology of its male sclerotised structures. Among the known species, only T. coeca and T. schockaerti share with Typhlopolycystis sp.5 a combination of stylets of similar length, with the prostate stylet type III (psIII) forming a broad plate and the accessory stylet type II (asII) tapering to a sharp distal tip. However, the psIII of T. schockaerti is extremely broad and lacks a defined distal tip and, therefore, does not warrant further comparison with Typhlopolycystis sp.5. Otherwise, the psIII of Typhlopolycystis sp.5, which is constricted at midlength, clearly differentiates the new species from T. coeca, whose psIII shows no constriction and remains uniformly broad along its entire length. Additionally, the psIII of T. coeca is much shorter (27 µm) than that of Typhlopolycystis sp.5 (35 µm).
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 33–37 µm in length (x¯ = 35 µm; n = 2), straight, constricted at its midlength, and ending distally in a round, broad tip. The accessory stylet type II is 34–36 µm long (x¯ = 35 µm; n = 2), slightly curved, and tapering to a distal, sharp 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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