Dugesia punensis

 Context

A new species of regenerative freshwater flatworm, Dugesia punensis, has been discovered in Pashan Lake, Pune, Maharashtra. This marks the first such identification in India since 1983.

About Dugesia punensis

• Taxonomic Group:
  Belongs to the genus Dugesia under the phylum Platyhelminthes (flatworms).
• Type:
  A free-living, non-parasitic flatworm, known for its remarkable regenerative ability.

Distinct Features

Trait	Description
Body Coloration	Dorsal side: Spotted dark brown with a light brown midline; Ventral side: Pale.
Anatomy	Slightly reduced auricles, elongated pharynx and gonopore.
Eyes	Two prominent black eyes located in auricular grooves.
Eggs	Reddish, circular eggs.
Regeneration Time	Completes regeneration in 10–13 days, even after 15–20 days without food.
Diet	Feeds on chicken liver in laboratory settings.

 

Ecological & Scientific Significance

• Biodiversity Value:
  Enhances the known diversity of planarians and highlights the rich, yet understudied, biodiversity of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
• Scientific Contribution:
  Adds important data to the taxonomy of freshwater flatworms and demonstrates the survival adaptability and regenerative biology of planarians.
• Historical Note:
  This is the first planarian species discovered in India in over four decades.

About Planarians (General Features)

• Habitat:
  Found in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.
• Body Structure:
  • Soft, leaf-like, bilaterally symmetrical body.
  • Possess light-sensitive eyespots and a ladder-like nervous system.
  • Digestive system consists of a muscular pharynx and branched intestine (no anus).
• Excretion:
  Through specialized cells known as flame cells.
• Brain:
  Simple central nervous system with paired ganglia acting as a primitive brain.