Eurylepta alicula Pitale & Apte 2021, sp. nov.

• Main Authors: Pitale, Reshma, Apte, Deepak
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Zenodo 2021
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Platyhelminthes; Polycladida; Euryleptidae; Eurylepta; Eurylepta alicula; Craggy Island
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5577166; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/B8432E30FFFDC0786491ACA0EC0CFC85

Eurylepta alicula sp. nov. (Figure 4, 5) Etymology: Named derived from the Latin word alicula meaning light coat or cloak, referring to the coat or covering of papillae over the dorsal surface of the species. Material examined: Holotype: One specimen (BNHS-Pclad 320, 4.99 mm x 6.01 mm) in ethanol 80% and serial sagittal sections of the reproductive structures (97 slides). Collected 27-3-2019 at type locality Craggy Island (13.22421° N, 93.057941° E), Andaman Islands. Paratypes: One specimen (BNHS-Pclad 321, 4.76 mm x 3.95 mm), collected on 27-3-2019 from Craggy Island; one specimen (BNHS-Pclad 322, 4.98 mm x 3.25 mm) collected on 27-3-2019 from Craggy Island. A five specimens were also found during surveys spanning 2012–2019 from Mandvi, Mirya and Alawa in Ratnagiri, but they were distorted during preservation. Distribution: Craggy Island, Andaman and Alawa and Mirya in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Diagnosis: Background colour white with pointed tentacles. Translucent papillae with white tip, present across the dorsal surface. Black maculae present dorsally in the unspecified pattern except for the medial longitudinal raised portion where they form one anterior and one mid-length cluster. Description: Colour: Translucent white dorsal surface bears raised acuminate translucent papillae with white tip. These papillae continue over the narrow translucent margin. Small black coloured maculae are present dorsally, in a random arrangement. Medial longitudinal raised portion bears three distinct clusters of these maculae across its length. Group of five (three-five in paratypes) maculae are present between the anterior region of the pharynx and cerebral eyespots. The second cluster approximately at mid-length and the third cluster found aligned over the distal portion of the median longitudinal line (Figures 4A–F). Ventral surface smooth and whitish pale. Form: Body elongated and margin slightly ruffled. Pseudotentacles: Well-developed, Conical, 0.55 mm in length. Eyespots: Cerebral eyespots are arranged as two distinct ...