| Seven new Parotoplana species (Proseriata: Otoplanidae) from the Mediterranean, belonging to the P. jondelii complex, are described. They are characterized by the presence of numerous (14-22) copulatory spines. These are characteristically broad, and arranged in a girdle around the distal portion of the ejaculatory duct. In most species, dorsal and ventral spines are distinctly different from the rest of the spines of the girdle. This morphology of the copulatory spines is apomorphic for the genus Parotoplana, and supports a close relationship among these species. The new species (P. axi sp. n., P. crassispina sp. n., P. carthagoensis sp. n., P. gracilispina sp. n., P. ichnusae sp. n., P. obtusispina sp. n., P. pulchrispina sp. n.) are distinguished by... |
