Pusillaplana Sluys & Laumer, 2025

Sluys, Ronald, Vila-Farré, Miquel & Laumer, Christopher E., 2025, Integrative delimitation of two new, meiobenthic species of flatworms from Panama, constituting two new genera of marine triclads (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Maricola), Zootaxa 5686 (4), pp. 485-502 : 489-490

Genus Pusillaplana Sluys & Laumer , gen. nov. incertae sedis

Type species. Pusillaplana rubella Sluys , sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is based on the Latin adjectives pusillus, very little, and planus, flat, and alludes to the fact that these flatworms are very small in size. Gender: feminine.

Diagnosis. Marine triclads with: (1) septa in the penis papilla, channelling secretion towards the proximal end of the ejaculatory duct; (2) a secondary gonopore located posteriorly to the primary gonopore; (3) a copulatory bursa that is connected with the ventrally located secondary gonopore and is located posterior to the male copulatory apparatus; (4) two retinal cells per eyecup; (5) absence of an eye lens; (6) a far posterior location of the ovaries, the gonads being situated directly in front of the male copulatory apparatus; (7) an oviducal loop posterior to the gonoduct and copulatory bursa; (8) oviducts that communicate with the copulatory bursa through balloon-shaped sections; (9) a genito-intestinal duct connecting the oviducal loop with the gut; and (10) a ring of distinct, sclerotic spines on the tip of the penis papilla.