Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 July 2009
The morphology and taxonomy of a new species of otoplanid (Plathelminthes: Rhabditophora: Proseriata) is discussed. Otoplana proxima sp. nov., collected at Marina di Bibbona (Livorno), presents the typical morphological peculiarities of the subfamily Otoplaninae, but clearly differs from the previously described species with regard to the organization of the genital organs. The new flatworm appears more similar to Otoplana intermedia, but differs sharply in its body length and male copulatory organ made up of 23–24 pliable spines (42–70 μm long) characterized by a forked tip and a canaliculated proximal end.