Dendrocoelidae
Dendrocoelum cavaticum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Order: Tricladida
Superfamily: Planarioidea
Family: Dendrocoelidae
Hallez, 1892
Genera

See text

Dendrocoelidae is a family of freshwater tricladida flatworms that has a holarctic distribution.[1]

The largest freshwater triclad known belongs to this family, it's up to 40 cm in length and inhabits the Lake Baikal.[2]

Description

The family Dendrocoelidae is characterized by an unusual arrangement of the muscle layers of the pharynx. While in most planarians the inner musculature of the pharynx is composed of two muscle layers, one circular and one longitudinal, in Dendrocoelidae the circular and longitudinal fibers are intermingled, forming a mixed layer.[1]

Dendrocoelidae is the sister group of Kenkiidae. Both families have an anterior adhesive organ, which is considered a synapomorphy of the group.[1]

Genera

The following genera are recognised in the family Dendrocoelidae:[3]

Phylogeny

Phylogenetic supertree after Sluys et al., 2009:[4]

Tricladida

References

  1. ^ a b c Sluys, R.; Kawakatsu, M. (2006). "Towards a phylogenetic classification of dendrocoelid freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes): A morphological and eclectic approach". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 44 (4): 274. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0469.2006.00371.x.
  2. ^ Kozhov, M. 1963. Lake Baikal and Its Life. The Hague: W. Junk. vii + 344pp.
  3. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Dendrocoelidae Hallez, 1892". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  4. ^ Sluys, R.; Kawakatsu, M.; Riutort, M.; Baguñà, J. (2009). "A new higher classification of planarian flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)". Journal of Natural History. 43 (29–30): 1763–1777. doi:10.1080/00222930902741669.
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