Dugesia hepta, nuova specie di Planaria di acqua dolce di Sardegna appartenente alla superspecieDugesia gonocephala(Dugès) (Turbellaria, Tricladida)

A planarian belonging to the groupDugesia gonocephalas.l. was found in thirteen sites in Sardinia (eleven in the catchment area of the Rio Mannu of Porto Torres and two in that of the Coghinas). It is morphologically related toDugesia benazziiLepori of Sardinia and Corsica but presents a different caryotype:
2n=14; n=7 chromosomes instead of 2n=16; n=8 chromosomes. The latter is considered to be the most common in the
superspeciesDugesia gonocephalaof central European and Mediterranean distribution areas.On the grounds of the genomic differences made evident and
its particular distribution in Sardinia, the authors believe that the planarian in question should be considered a distinet species within the groupDugesia gollocephalas.l. and propose the denominationDugesia heptan. sp.