Eurylepta is a genus of free-living marine flatworms (polyclads) in the family Euryleptidae.
Characteristics Eurylepta is a morphologically diverse group of flatworms in the class Turbellaria that live freely in marine environments, as opposed to parasitic flatworms of other classes (Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda). The genus was originally described as flat, with a discrete mouth and anus, eye clusters on the neck, two tentaculiform folds at the front, and a posterior ovary. Eurylepta are hermaphroditic, possessing an armed penis with a tubular stylet. Further characteristics include a forward-pointing pharynx, the mouth directly behind the brain, and a lack of digestive tract. Not much of their feeding habits has been recorded, however, Eurylepta leoparda is a well-known predator of ascidians.
Taxonomy & Distribution Ehrenberg first described the genus Eurylepta along with two new species, E. praetexta and E. flavomarginata, which have since been moved to the Prostheceraeus and Pseudoceros genera respectively. Ehrenberg and Hemprich observed the individuals among corals in the Red Sea, during their travels in Arabia. Since then, new species of Eurylepta have been described in off-shore marine environments globally. Georeferenced records and observations can be found in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and iNaturalist.
Below are the 18 accepted species under the genus Eurylepta, according to the World Register of Marine Species. SpeciesDistributionImageEurylepta alba (Freeman, 1933)West Coast of AmericaEurylepta alicula Pitale & Apte, 2021West Coast of India, Andaman IslandsEurylepta aurantiaca Heath & McGregor, 1912Global DistributionEurylepta baeckstroemi (Bock, 1923)Northeastern Pacific, Chilean CoastEurylepta californica Hyman, 1959West Coast of AmericaEurylepta cornuta (O. F. Müller, 1776)European CoastsEurylepta fulvolimbata Grube, 1867Central South PacificEurylepta guayota Cuadrado, Moro & Norena, 2017Canary IslandsEurylepta herberti Kirk, 1882Cook Strait, near South PacificEurylepta leoparda Freeman, 1933West Coast of AmericaEurylepta meridiana (Ritter-Zahony, 1907)Southeastern Pacific, Chilean CoastEurylepta multicelis (Hyman, 1955)Florida, North AtlanticEurylepta neptis Du Bois-Reymond Marcus, 1955Brazilian Coast, South AtlanticEurylepta pantherina Grube, 1867Central South PacificEurylepta piscatoria (Marcus, 1947)Brazilian Coast, South AtlanticEurylepta rugosa (Hyman, 1959)Palau Islands, Central Indo-PacificEurylepta turma Marcus, 1952Brazilian Coast, South AtlanticEurylepta violacea (Kelaart, 1858)Indian Ocean
References
External links
List of immediate children (species) under genus Eurylepta from World Register of Marine Species and GBIF Georeferenced records and observations from GBIF and iNaturalist