Re: Acoel flatworms in aquaria

April 10, 2008
From: Thomas Shannon III

Concerning message #5836:

Hi Mike,

Granted, I'm writing this 5 years after your initial posting, but I figured that you might want to know that you were correct in stating that there are likely several other species of Convolutriloba... Four described species to date to be exact.

Not sure if you're still interested in these cute little guys, but after working with the Genus for about 10 years or so, and describing one of the species, I've finally got around to putting together a very simple dichotomous key for identifying members of the genus.

The ID webpage is at http://macropyga.googlepages.com/identification

Cheers,
Tom

macropyga@yahoo.com

Shannon, T., 2008 (Apr 10) Re: Acoel flatworms in aquaria. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21513

Thanks Tom,

It's never too late to answer or comment on a Forum message. Although I try and avoid non 'sea slug' matters simply because I have no time I have a great interest in all of these solar-powered animals. I don't know why I hadn't made the connection between Convolutriloba and the little animal I called Convoluta in an earlier message [#627]. In your thesis [see link on Tom's home page] I was fascinated by your report on how the behaviour of your flatworms seemed to be connected to the welfare of the symbiotic algae in their bodies. This is exactly what I noticed with a little green acoel which I identified as Convoluta many years ago in East Africa. In the earlier message I mention above I describe how the worms would adjust their position apparently to maintain an optimum light level in the bright tropical sun. Perhaps using this aversion to bright light could be used in some way to help get rid of infestations from home aquariums?

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2008 (Apr 10). Comment on Re: Acoel flatworms in aquaria by Thomas Shannon III. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/21513

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