Cephaloflexa is a genus of land planarians from Brazil.
| Cephaloflexa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cephaloflexa araucariana | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Tricladida |
| Family: | Geoplanidae |
| Subfamily: | Geoplaninae |
| Genus: | Cephaloflexa Carbayo & Leal-Zanchet, 2003 |
| Type species | |
| Geoplana bergi Graff, 1899
| |
Description edit
The genus Cephaloflexa is characterized by the presence of a cephalic retractor muscle not associated with cephalic glands. Due to this muscle, the head in species of Cephaloflexa is rolled upwards or backwards similarly to Choeradoplana.[1] The main external feature to distinguish Cephaloflexa from Choeradoplana is the presence of two “cushions” on the ventral side of the head of the latter. The copulatory apparatus of Cephaloflexa lacks a permanent penis papilla.[1]
Etymology edit
The name Cephaloflexa comes from the Greek word κεφαλή (head) and the Latin word flexus (bending).
Species edit
There are three described species in the genus Cephaloflexa:
- Cephaloflexa araucariana Carbayo & Leal-Zanchet, 2003
- Cephaloflexa bergi (Graff, 1899)
- Cephaloflexa nataliae (Froehlich, 1959)