The Taxonomic Status Of Dugesia Biblica From Israel And Turkey (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae)

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Dugesia biblica (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Israel and Turkey is problematic due to its morphological similarity with D. sicula since these nominal species present overlapping characters. In this study we analyzed histological preparations of specimens of these two nominal species and also compared mitochondrial COI gene sequences from Israeli populations to the already known haplotype composition of D. sicula. We concluded that these animals belong to the same species and therefore we consider D. biblica to be a junior synonym of D. sicula. This implies that the distribution range of D. sicula is even wider than previously thought, and that the species is present all around the Mediterranean Basin and on many of its islands.