Pseudobiceros_bedfordi
Pseudobiceros bedfordi
Species of flatworm
| Pseudobiceros bedfordi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
| Order: | Polycladida |
| Family: | Pseudocerotidae |
| Genus: | Pseudobiceros |
| Species: | P. bedfordi |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudobiceros bedfordi (Laidlaw, 1903) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pseudobiceros bedfordi (common names Persian carpet flatworm[1] and Bedford's flatworm) is a species of flatworm in the family Pseudocerotidae.[2]
This species has two penises, which it uses to engage in penis fencing, attempting to inject sperm into its opponent in order to fertilize it, while simultaneously avoiding being fertilized by their opponent.[3]
Pseudobiceros bedfordi is a large polyclad flatworm approximately 8–10 cm in length. It has a distinctive pattern consisting of a brown to black background, with multiple transverse, bilateral pink lines around thousands of tightly spaced, bright yellow spots,[4] pink undulating spots with stripes on the sides of the body.[5]
The edges of the body are usually ruffled. The underside of Pseudobiceros bedfordi is pale pink. The front of the body has a pair of erect pseudotentacles.[1]
This species is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Thailand, Australia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Myanmar, and Palau.[6]
Pseudobiceros bedfordi is found on coral rubble[4] and ledges in back reefs, coastal bays, and in lagoons.[5]
This worm is fast-moving, and is able to swim by undulating its body.[4]
Pseudobiceros bedfordi feeds on ascidians and on crustaceans that are small enough to swallow.[5]
Like all flatworms in the genus Pseudobiceros, they are hermaphroditic and have two penises. During mating, they fence with one another, using their penises, attempting to stab and inject sperm in their opponent, while avoiding being fertilized by their opponent. They are able to inseminate their opponent by injecting their sperm into any region of the other's body they are able to penetrate. After successfully injecting the other, the spermatozoa stream through their partner's body on their way to ovaries, where they will fertilize the eggs. The stream is visible through the body tissue of the worm, appearing as pale streaks, like lightning jags.[7][8]
- Arnqvist, Göran; Rowe, Locke (2005), Sexual conflict, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0-691-12218-2, p. 185
- Richmond, Matthew D. (1997), A Field Guide to the Seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean Islands, IDA/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC, ISBN 91-630-4594-X, p. 154
- Pseudobiceros bedfordi, Pseudobiceros bedfordi Archived 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
- Milius, Susan (14 February 1998). "Hermaphrodites Duel for Manhood". Science News. 153 (7): 101. doi:10.2307/4010187. JSTOR 4010187.
- Whitfield, John (15 June 2004). "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sexes". PLOS Biology. 2 (6): e183. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020183. PMC 423151. PMID 15208728.
