Sylvain Le Bris, Frankreich
Info
Discocelis tigrina occurs in the sea under rocks, on rocky coasts, sometimes among brown algae, Dictyota dichotoma, and near green algae such as Caulerpa prolifera, as observed in the vicinity of Ria Formosa, Portugal.
Discocelis tigrina was regularly found in association with mussels. In the accompanying study, Discocelis tigrina was also found in empty mussel shells and in shells with remnants of mussel entrails. This finding is common with Acotylea worms, as these turbellarians prey on a variety of mollusks.
The hypothesis suggests that the findings indicate a possible predator-prey relationship. This turbellarian was found in the Bizerte lagoon, mostly in association with the cultivated oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793). Many Acotylea are known to be predators of commercially exploited mussels.
The body shape of living worms is oval, with rounded front and rear ends. The dorsal side of the body is smooth, light brown with many dark brown spots distributed over the entire body, more concentrated in the main axis. The ventral side of Discocelis tigrina is light brown without spots. The whirlpool worm has tentacle tufts with about 21 eyes each and brain tufts with 32 eyes each. The mouth opening is located at the end of the first third of the pharynx.
The male and female reproductive organs open into a common genital atrium between the second and last third of the body.
Synonyms:
Elasmodes tigrinus (Blanchard, 1847) · unaccepted
Leptoplana tigrina (Blanchard, 1847) · unaccepted
Polycelis tigrina Blanchard, 1847 · unaccepted
Discocelis tigrina was regularly found in association with mussels. In the accompanying study, Discocelis tigrina was also found in empty mussel shells and in shells with remnants of mussel entrails. This finding is common with Acotylea worms, as these turbellarians prey on a variety of mollusks.
The hypothesis suggests that the findings indicate a possible predator-prey relationship. This turbellarian was found in the Bizerte lagoon, mostly in association with the cultivated oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793). Many Acotylea are known to be predators of commercially exploited mussels.
The body shape of living worms is oval, with rounded front and rear ends. The dorsal side of the body is smooth, light brown with many dark brown spots distributed over the entire body, more concentrated in the main axis. The ventral side of Discocelis tigrina is light brown without spots. The whirlpool worm has tentacle tufts with about 21 eyes each and brain tufts with 32 eyes each. The mouth opening is located at the end of the first third of the pharynx.
The male and female reproductive organs open into a common genital atrium between the second and last third of the body.
Synonyms:
Elasmodes tigrinus (Blanchard, 1847) · unaccepted
Leptoplana tigrina (Blanchard, 1847) · unaccepted
Polycelis tigrina Blanchard, 1847 · unaccepted
