Dendrocoelidae

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

Dendrocoelidae
Dendrocoelum cavaticum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Rhabditophora
Order: Tricladida
Superfamily: Planarioidea
Family: Dendrocoelidae
Hallez, 1892
Genera

See text

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

Dendrocoelidae genera known are the following:[3]

Phylogeny

Phylogenetic supertree after Sluys et al., 2009:[3]

Tricladida
 

Maricola

 
 
 

Cavernicola

 
Continenticola
Planarioidea
 

Planariidae

 
 
 

Kenkiidae

 
 

Dendrocoelidae

 
 
 
Geoplanoidea
 

Dugesiidae

 
 

Geoplanidae

 
 
 
 
 

References
  1. 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. 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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