Species ID
OC-SP-0002631
Discovered
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Species ID
OC-SP-0002631
Provisional Species Name
Gyratrix sp_IRLBB_01592
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Gyratrix
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Order
Rhabdocoela
Family
Polycystididae
Genus
Gyratrix
Taxonomic Remarks
Gyratrix has long been recognized as one of the most speciose genera of rhabdocoel flatworms, with most of its species still undescribed and currently subsumed under the nominal species G. hermaphroditus. This taxonomic situation, including the absence of type material for G. hermaphroditus, makes the description of new species of Gyratrix—likely numbering more than 100—particularly challenging. Nevertheless, the new species described here, Gyratrix sp.1, is readily distinguished by a unique combination of characters: the absence of eyes and a markedly reduced proximal portion of the prostate stylet type III (also referred to as the sheath). This combination clearly differentiates the new species from G. hermaphroditus, a freshwater taxon with a type locality in Berlin, Germany, which possesses eyes and a well-developed proximal portion of prostate stylet type III, rendering this structure comparable in length to prostate stylet type II.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Species of Gyratrix without eyes. Single testis posterior to the pharynx. Prostate stylet type II needle shaped, 133 µm long, showing a proximal funnel and tapering to a distal sharp tip. Prostate stylet type III 54 µm long; its proximal part is very reduced, measuring 17 µm long; distal end displaying a spine pointing outside.
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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