Chatziplana grubei Faubel 1983
Creators: name: Merchán Mayorga, Jorge I
name: Quiroga, Sigmer Y
name: Posada, Isabella
name: García-Ramos, Katherin A
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Platyhelminthes
Polycladida
Stylochocestidae
Chatziplana
Chatziplana grubei

description: Chatziplana grubei (Graff, 1892)
Chatziplana grubei (Graff, 1892) Faubel 1983
Planocera grubei Graff, 1892
Hoploplana grubei (Graff, 1892)
Materials
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00627; preparations: whole mount (Neo-Mount); disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: F77FC249-FE7C-56B4-A797-F58CC75FD326; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00628; preparations: whole mount (Neo-Mount); disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 711937D3-85CC-56CB-90D5-388EB65BA9E5; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00629; preparations: whole mount (Neo-Mount); disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: AEAD9DE2-EA50-5E7A-A560-C6625EA1B4E5; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00630; preparations: stylet mount (Neo-Mount); disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 0CBAB71B-01E2-5CAC-93BD-F3F1F073FB55; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-1; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 1-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 993E24C7-9891-5F57-8EEC-2A9E460B010D; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-2; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 2-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 0E0ECA14-F1FF-531D-98AE-3B6C58715C71; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-3; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 3-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 4CE71D39-04E5-5768-A40A-D52BD9747FE4; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-4; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 4-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 20EA8EE8-B2BC-5D37-A6BC-6DD96AE5DB0D; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-5; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 5-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 456CE3A8-CAAC-548E-9D35-5A96F3D13590; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00631-6; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 6-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 011ACD18-6A9A-5C0A-82DA-A81D9FA13D90; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-1; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 1-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 164D6A42-5564-578D-8DA4-8A1E3BD2CC8C; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-2; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 2-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 1AEFD29A-8BFB-5A9B-BC3C-C7A3B302D133; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-3; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 3-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 33991B30-6B8D-5C37-9FB5-FC2B8AC932E8; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-4; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 4-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 7BA30D76-E488-52C8-AEF8-6961E6271CB6; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-5; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 5-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 961181AD-DE40-588B-86C8-ADC23C1D0D49; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-6; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 6-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: B2C1F620-5C22-5F9F-880B-98BF6BB87C7E; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-7; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 7-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 2DD63444-9A3B-5FD4-B42F-8EB1E249C84E; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-8; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 8-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 99394F20-3BCA-56A9-8F1C-B8415521E421; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-9; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 9-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 3CA52898-C10C-5DAF-847A-D57DFD973A18; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00632-10; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 10-10; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 2F628414-E89B-50E3-BCFB-1E8DD7CF54C0; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 10.13538174; decimalLongitude: - 76.00058405; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-1; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 1-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 79715431-F855-501A-B36A-2C942B70482D; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-2; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 2-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 969EE02A-9E5A-5E9F-8D83-D15963A4EE70; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-3; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 3-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: C224F52E-03F7-54B2-BC42-45AC1190F85A; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-4; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 4-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: 3C193E9B-A4CC-5C75-9607-55F5B195F15D; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-5; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 5-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: F9ECD3BE-7BE6-5520-B690-C1E206E83272; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Type status: Other material. Occurrence: catalogNumber: CBUMAG: PLA: 00633-6; preparations: Hematoxilin and eosin sagittal section 6-6; disposition: in collection; occurrenceID: C209359F-E7A1-546C-BD03-F75F1C6F01FA; Taxon: scientificName: Chatziplana grubei; taxonRank: species; Location: country: Colombia; decimalLatitude: 9.872; decimalLongitude: - 76.086; Record Level: institutionID: 891.780. 111 - 8; collectionID: RNC: 207; institutionCode: Universidad del Magdalena (UniMagdalena); collectionCode: CBUMAG
Distribution
Chatziplana grubei was first described from specimens collected in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans (Graff 1893) and was later recorded in the southern currents of Newfoundland, Canada (Plehn 1896) and in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands (Bock 1913). It has been commonly found on Sargassum mats in the Sargasso Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (Hyman 1939 b, Faubel 1984) and, more recently, in the Mexican Caribbean (van Tussenbroek et al. 2024 b). Since its original description, no further records have been reported from the Indian Ocean. Here, we report for the first time the presence of Chatziplana grubei in the central Colombian Caribbean associated with pelagic Sargassum.
Taxon discussion
Our specimens align with the description and illustrations from Graff (1893). Since its original description, the species has undergone two taxonomic changes. First, it was transferred, along with several species of Planocera Blainville, 1828 to Hoploplana by Laidlaw (1902), who established the genus due to its clear differences from the other members of Planocera that have a cylindrical penis with chitinous spines contrary to the species he transferred to Hoploplana which have a styliform penis; he also stated the presence of a muscular bursa copulatrix in Planocera contrary to the simpler female system of Hoploplanids. Later, Faubel (1983) re-assigned Hoploplana grubei to the family Stylochocestidae Bock, 1913 and established the genus Chatziplana making it a monotypic genus, due to the ventral arrangement of the prostatic vesicle and the entire male reproductive system enclosed in a muscle bulb that no other Hoploplanid shares. Hence, both taxonomic changes were based mainly on the male reproductive structures of this species.
However, it is worth noting that, in Faubel's description, he mentions the presence of a flat seminal vesicle located dorsal to the prostatic vesicle. We did not observe any evidence of a seminal vesicle in our specimens. Instead, we consider the structure described by Faubel (1983) to be the cross-section where the spermiducal bulbs fuse and enter the prostatic vesicle (Fig. 2 E). Additionally, we identified a previously unreported spine on the stylet of our specimens, located at the base of the stylet and curving in the same direction as the stylet point (Fig. 2 D). This spine may have been difficult to observe in previous studies due to its small, thin and fragile structure, which could have easily been broken during specimens sectioning (Fig. 2 E).
Regarding the female system, there is a contradiction in Faubel's monograph concerning the presence of Lang's vesicle. In the key to the genera of Stylochocestidae and the genus description of Chatziplana, the presence of a Lang's vesicle is mentioned. However, in his re-description of the copulatory apparatus of the species, Faubel states that the Lang's vesicle is absent –– an absence also reflected in his illustration. This inconsistency was carried over in the work of Bulnes et al. (2003), where two new genera were established for the family. The absence of this vesicle could result from an obervational oversight, as seen in G. sargassicola (see below). However, in Graff (1893) ' s original description, he clearly states that the vagina leads only to a small bladder receiving the uteri from both sides and his illustrations do not depict a Lang's vesicle. We did not observe any evidence of a Lang's vesicle in our whole mounts or sagittal sections (Fig. 2).
We provide the first photographs of the reproductive structures and whole mounts, as well as the first genetic sequence for this species. In light of our observations, we consider that an update of Faubel's definition of the genus Chatziplana is warranted.
Emended Diagnosis Chatziplana Faubel, 1983
Stylochocestidae with tentacular and cerebral eyes. The body is of firm consistency. Tentacles present. Male and female pores separate. Male copulatory apparatus enclosed in a common muscular bulb arranged ventrally. Prostatic vesicle developed and distally enclosed by a pointed stylet with an accessory spine. At the dorsal base of the stylet, the ejaculatory duct opens into the prostatic vesicle. Developed spermiducal bulbs instead of a seminal vesicle. Female apparatus simple without Lang's vesicle.
Type of the genus: Chatziplana grubei (Graff, 1892): With the characteristics of the genus.
description: Published as part of Merchán Mayorga, Jorge I, Quiroga, Sigmer Y, Posada, Isabella & García-Ramos, Katherin A, 2025, Free-living clinging flatworms (Rhabditophora, Polycladida) associated with Sargassum from the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, pp. e 150699 in Biodiversity Data Journal 13 on page e150699, DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.13.e150699