Class Rhabditophora Rank Family | Phylum Platyhelminthes Order Tricladida | |
 | ||
Suborder CavernicolaSluys, 1990 Similar Planarioidea, Dendrocoelidae, Geoplanoidea, Kenkiidae, Dugesiidae | ||
Dimarcusidae is a family of triclads found mostly in freshwater habitats of caves, although at least one species, Rhodax evelinae, occurs in surface waters. It is the only family within the suborder Cavernicola. Currently the family contains only seven species distributed in five genera, although the total number of species is thought to be much higher.
Contents
Description
The morphological features uniting species of Dimarcusidae are related to the reproductive system. Their ovaries are located more posteriorly than in most triclads, which usually have them close to the brain. The penis in species of Dimarcusidae contains glandular elements and the common ovovitelline duct is perpendicular to the female genital duct.
Taxonomy
The family Dimarcusidae was erected in 1972 by Mitchell and Kawakatsu to include a new species, Dimarcus villalobosi. However, the same species had been briefly described by Benazzi in the same year as Opisthobursa mexicana and this name had priority, with Dimarcus villalobosi becoming a junior synonym. As a result, the family is called Dimarcusidae despite the absence of a valid genus Dimarcus.
Phylogeny
Historically, species of Dimarcusidae have been classified as members of the suborders Maricola (marine triclads) or Paludicola (freshwater triclads). They received their own suborder, Cavernicola, in 1990, although their relationship to other triclads had not been settled. Recent molecular studies, however, suggest that Cavernicola is the sister group of Maricola, thus being more closely related to marine than to freshwater triclads.
Genera
Currently the family Dimarcusidae includes the following five genera: