Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The importance of the fixation of colour, pattern and form in tropical Pseudocerotidae (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida)

  • Anatomy and ultrastructure
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

At last a fixation method that ensures tropical pseudocerotid polyclads are fixed flat, preserved for histological preparation and which also retains their colour pattern has been developed. FCA-PGPP (Formaldehyde Calcium Acetate-Propylene Glycol, Propylene Phenoxetol) fixative is frozen and worms are coaxed onto filter paper which is then laid on the frozen fixative. As a consequence, over 230 species have been documented from the southern Great Barrier Reef and eastern Papua New Guinea (Newman & Cannon, 1994; in press). It was determined that species diagnoses need to be based on colour pattern, general morphology of living animals and serial reconstructions of the male anatomy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Hyman, L. H., 1954. The polyclad genus Pseudoceros, with special reference to the Indo-Pacific region. Pac. Sci. 8: 219–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyman, L. H., 1959. Some Australian polyclads. Rec. Aust. Mus. 25: 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, L. J. & L. R. G. Cannon, 1994. Biodiversity of tropical polyclad flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Mem. Qd Mus. 36: 159–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, L. J. & L. R. G. Cannon, (in press). Pseudoceros and Pseudobiceros (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida, Pseudocerotidae) from eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea. Mem. Qld. Mus.

  • Prudhoe, S., 1985. A Monograph on Polyclad Turbellaria. British Museum (Natural History), Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 259p p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prudhoe, S., 1989. Polyclad turbellarians recorded from African waters. Bull. Brit. Mus., N.H. (Zool.) 55: 47–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winsor, L., 1991. Method for taxonomic and distributional studies of terrestrial flatworms (Tricladida: Terricola). Hydrobiologia 227 (Dev. Hydrobiol. 69): 349–352.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. L. R. G. Cannon

    Present address: Zoology Department, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 4072, Queensland, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Worms, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, P.O. Box 3300, 4101, Queensland, Australia

    L. J. Newman & L. R. G. Cannon

Authors
  1. L. J. Newman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. R. G. Cannon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Christensen Research Institute Contribution No. 82

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Newman, L.J., Cannon, L.R.G. The importance of the fixation of colour, pattern and form in tropical Pseudocerotidae (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida). Hydrobiologia 305, 141–143 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036376

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036376

Key words

Search

Navigation