Kingdom Animalia Class Rhabditophora Suborder Continenticola | Phylum Platyhelminthes Order Tricladida Family Planariidae | |
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Planaria is a genus of planarians in the family Planariidae. It is currently represented by a single species, Planaria torva, which is found in Europe. Planaria has the ability to regenerate into several pieces when cut.
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Description
Currently the genus Planaria is defined as freshwater triclads with oviducts that unite to form a common oviduct without embracing the bursa copulatrix and with an adenodactyl present in the male atrium. The testes occur along the whole body.
Diet
The food of P. torva consists of freshwater gastropods, tubificid worms, and freshwater arthropods, such as isopods of the genus Asellus and chironomid larvae, although it shows a clear preference for snails. In the United Kingdom, P. torva is a successful predator of the invasive New Zealand mud snail (P. jenkinsi).