Eudoxiatopoplana facts for kids

Eudoxiatopoplana is a special group, or genus, of land planarians. These are a type of flatworm that lives on land. This genus is found in New Zealand.

Right now, there's only one known species in this group: Eudoxiatopoplana bilaticlavia. You can find this unique flatworm on Stewart Island, which is south of New Zealand's main islands. This genus is also the only member of a larger group called Eudoxiatopoplanini.

What Does Eudoxiatopoplana Look Like?

The land planarians in the Eudoxiatopoplana group have a small, strong body. It's shaped a bit like a cylinder when you look at it from the side. The front end is rounded and curls up slightly. This creates a small sticky area underneath.

These flatworms have many eyes. They are arranged in several rows around the front of their body. You can also find eyes along the top-front part and all the way down their body. Inside their body, strong muscles form a thick ring around their digestive system.

Where Did the Name Eudoxiatopoplana Come From?

The name Eudoxiatopoplana is quite interesting! It's a mix of different languages.

• The first part, Eudoxia, comes from the Greek word εὐδοξία, which means "honor."
• The middle part, atopos, is also Greek and means "out of place" or "unusual."
• The last part, plana, is from Latin and means "flat."

So, the name honors Professor Eudóxia Maria Froehlich. She made important contributions to studying land planarians. The second part of the name, bilaticlavia, describes the species. It comes from Latin bi-, meaning "two," and laticlavia, meaning "having a broad stripe." This refers to the two wide stripes found on the back of this flatworm.