The reproductive organs of Geoplana sanguinea Moseley
Abstract
In a description of New Zealand land planarians Dendy (1896) identified several specimens as G. sanguine, which he considered had been introduced into New Zealand from Australia, where it is endemic. Nevertheless, Dendy was a little doubtful of his identification, as he goes on to say: There is some difficulty in distinguishing between this species and G. triangulata var. australis.
In a collection of New Zealand land planarians received on loan from the British Museum for the study of the internal anatomy there was one specimen collected at Invercargill, N.Z., and labelled by Dendy G. sanguinea. From its internal structure this specimen proved to be an immature G. triangulata var. australis, now Artioposthia australis. In order to compare this with the real G. sanguinea the writer applied for material to the Director of the Australian Museum, Sydney, and was kindly given a selection of specimens of that worm.