Girardia tigrina
Species of flatworm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Girardia tigrina, known as the brown planarian or the immigrant triclad flatworm, is a species of dugesiid native to the Americas.[1] It has been accidentally introduced into Europe[2] and Japan.[3]
| Girardia tigrina | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Dugesiidae |
| Genus: | Girardia |
| Species: | G. tigrina |
| Binomial name | |
| Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
G. tigrina individuals are around 10 mm in length. They have a head with two broad and short auricles. The two eyes are in two pigment-free patches. The dorsal surface of the body has numerous pigment spots.[3]
Distribution and ecology
Originally from the Americas, Girardia tigrina has become an invasive species in Europe and Japan. Since being first recorded in France in 1925,[4] this species has been reported from many other European countries, including Germany,[5][6] Italy,[7] the Netherlands,[8] Romania,[9] and Wales.[10]
In North Wales, this species has displaced the native triclad species Polycelis nigra and Polycelis tenuis due to its superior exploitation of food.[2]
Diet
G. tigrina is a carnivorous species that feeds on invertebrates such as oligochaetes, isopods, chironomids, snails, caddisflies, and mayflies.[2]
Karyology
The haploid number is n=8. There are diploid (2n=16) and triploid (3n=24) specimens.[3]