title: Reproductive strategies, karyology, parasites, and taxonomic status of Dugesia populations from Yemen (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Dugesiidae).
abstract: We present new data on the distribution, reproductive strategies, karyology, and taxonomic status of populations of freshwater planarians from Yemen. Nine populations were sampled and significant differences in their reproductive strategies and karyology are reported. The present study presents the first fully documented record of a naturally sexual, diploid (2n = 18) population of a Dugesia species in the eastern part of the Afrotropical region. Morphological characters combined with karyological data suggest that these Dugesia populations from Yemen represent a new species, which is herein described as Dugesia arabica Harrath and Sluys, sp. nov. This new species is mainly distinguishable from other Dugesia species that are distributed exclusively in the Mediterranean basin and in the eastern part of the Afrotropical region by the presence of the following features: well-developed and cone-shaped penis papilla, housing an ejaculatory duct that runs ventrally and has a subterminal and ventral opening; a considerably expanded and folded section of the bursal canal at the level of the oviducal openings; absence of a layer of longitudinal muscles on the copulatory bursa and the bursal canal. Specimens from two populations from Yemen were infested with a gregarine Protozoon.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. halim.harrath@laposte.net
authors.forename: Abdul Halim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Harrath
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sluys
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Aldahmash
authors.forename: Abdulkarim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Razaki
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alwasel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D059785:Karyotype; D008297:Male; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction; D015006:Yemen