Leigh WinsorJames Cook University · College of Science & Engineering
Leigh Winsor
MSc, PhD
About
71
Publications
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Introduction
Current research interests include the taxonomy, systematics and biogeography of terrestrial flatworms of the Australian zoogeographic region, identification of invasive species of terrestrial flatworms world-wide, functional anatomy of the copulatory organs of terrestrial flatworms. Currently collaborating on invasive species of land planarians in France. Also morphological taxonomic revisions of land planarians of the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands, and Australian genera.
Publications
Publications (71)
We present here the first observation of Bipalium admarginatum de Beauchamp, 1933 since its original description 90 years ago. Three specimens were found on Perhentian Kecil Island, off Terengganu State, Malaysia and photographed in the field, and two were collected. This report thus includes the first colour photographs published for this species,...
We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the flatworm Australopacifica atrata. The species, originally described from New South Wales, Australia, has been found in various locations in the Brit-ish Isles, New Zealand and in the United States of America; it is thus potentially invasive. The genome is 16513 bp long, encodes for 12 protein co...
The land flatworm Obama nungara, a species originating from South America and already invasive in many European countries, is recorded from La Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean. This is the first record of O. nungara from this locality and also the first record of the species for Africa. Three specimens were collected in 2021 and 2022, i...
Aim
Alien species introduced into new ecosystems occasionally predate upon or outcompete native species. Land planarians (Geoplanidae) are a family of carnivorous Platyhelminthes among which several species are found outside their native range. Specifically, hammerhead flatworms originate from Asia and Madagascar but have now reached many new locat...
A popular piece about the world invasion by hammerhead flatworms.
In French.
A popular piece about the species Diversibipalium mayottensis (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) recently described from Mayotte, Indian Ocean.
In French.
The land flatworm Obama nungara, a species originating from South America and already invasive in many European countries, is recorded from La Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean. This is the first record of O. nungara from this locality and also the first record of the species for Africa. Two specimens were collected, one from Petite Fran...
Background
New records of alien land planarians are regularly reported worldwide, and some correspond to undescribed species of unknown geographic origin. The description of new species of land planarians (Geoplanidae) should classically be based on both external morphology and histology of anatomical structures, especially the copulatory organs, i...
Alien land planarians have been scarcely recorded in Italy and the aim of this work was to update the distribution of alien planarians in Italy using a citizen science and, whenever possible, a molecular approach. We received 133 records of at least 15 species (Anisorhynchodemus cf. signata, Australopacifica atrata, Australoplana cf. sanguinea alba...
The land flatworm Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) is recorded from the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Martin in the Caribbean arc. Photographs and records were obtained mainly from citizen science and ranged from the end of 2018 to February 2021; several specimens were deposited in the collections of the Muséum Nat...
Since 1955 snails of the Euglandina rosea species complex and Platydemus manokwari flatworms were widely introduced in attempted biological control of giant African snails (Lissachatina fulica) but have been implicated in the mass extinction of Pacific island snails. We review the histories of the 60 introductions and their impacts on L. fulica and...
Since 1955 snails of the Euglandina rosea species complex and Platydemus manokwari flat-worms were widely introduced in attempted biological control of giant African snails (Lissachatina fulica) but have been implicated in the mass extinction of Pacific island snails. We review the histories of the 60 introductions and their impacts on L.
Since 1955 snails of the Euglandina rosea species complex and Platydemus manokwari flat-worms were widely introduced in attempted biological control of giant African snails (Lissachatina fulica) but have been implicated in the mass extinction of Pacific island snails. We review the histories of the 60 introductions and their impacts on L.fulica and...
Alien land flatworms (family Geoplanidae) are invading many countries in the world. Some can easily be identified by their morphology and colour pattern, but some are more cryptic and necessitate a molecular approach. Caenoplana decolorata Mateos et al., 2020 was recently described, from specimens found in Spain, as a sibling species to C. coerulea...
The land flatworm Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) is recorded for the first time from the island of Guadeloupe (French West Indies) in the Caribbean arc. Photographs and records were obtained from citizen science and ranged from the end of 2018 to 2020; specimens were deposited in the collections of the Muséum National d'Histoir...
Background
Obama nungara is a species of land flatworm originating from South America; the species was recently described and distinguished from a similar species, Obama marmorata . Obama nungara has invaded several countries of Europe, but the extent of the invasion has not been thoroughly mapped.
Methods
In this article, based on a five and a ha...
A short paper in French in "The Conversation" about the invasion of Metropolitan France by the land flatworm Obama nungara.
Article en français dans "The Conversation" à propos de l'invasion de la France Métropolitaines par le Plathelminthe terrestre Obama nungara.
A short paper in English in "The Conversation" about the invasion of Metropolitan France by the land flatworm Obama nungara.
This paper was written for a general public and was based on our scientific paper published in PeerJ: https://peerj.com/articles/8385/ .
Article en anglais dans "The Conversation" à propos de l'invasion de la France Métrop...
Specimens of Bipalium adventitium (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) were found in Montréal, Québec, Canada. The specimens showed the typical colour pattern of the species and barcoding (Cytochrome Oxidase I) demonstrated near-identity with a sequence of the same species from the USA. This is the first record of the species in Canada.
We report the presence of the land planarian Endeavouria septemlineata from Tahiti, French Polynesia, on the basis of a single specimen collected in 2017. Identification of the species was ascertained by external and internal morphology and DNA COI sequence. The finding is of importance for conservation, since this species is a predator of soil ani...
The chapter provides a concise account of collecting techniques, and basic histological techniques for investigating planarians, intended for use by practicing scientists and postgraduate students new to the field. Selected hands-on methods are described that will lead to well-stained preparations suitable for light microscopic examination for subs...
The chapter provides a concise account of collecting techniques, and basic histological techniques for investigating planarians, intended for use by practicing scientists and postgraduate students new to the field. Selected hands-on methods are described that will lead to well-stained preparations suitable for light microscopic examination for subs...
Background
Species of the genera Bipalium and Diversibipalium , or bipaliines, are giants among land planarians (family Geoplanidae), reaching length of 1 m; they are also easily distinguished from other land flatworms by the characteristic hammer shape of their head. Bipaliines, which have their origin in warm parts of Asia, are invasive species,...
Specimens of bipaliines with molecular data.
Photographs and details about bipaliines with molecular data, listed in Table 2.
French translation of the paper / Traduction française de l’article.
Specimens from citizen science, without molecular data.
Photographs and details of specimens of bipaliines obtained from citizen science, without molecular data. Corresponds to Tables 5–8 of the paper.
The land planarian Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963, or "New Guinea flatworm" is a highly invasive species, mainly in the Pacific area, and recently in Europe (France). We report specimens from six additional countries and territories: New Caledonia (including mainland and of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou and Maré), Wallis and Futuna Islands, S...
Tetrodotoxin (TTX), is a potent neurotoxin targeting sodium channels that has been identified in multiple marine and terrestrial organisms. It was recently detected in the Opisthobranch Pleurobranchaea maculata and a Platyhelminthes Stylochoplana sp. from New Zealand. Knowledge on the distribution of TTX within these organisms is important to assis...
Contexte - Plusieurs espèces de plathelminthes terrestres invasifs ont été signalées depuis 2013 en France métropolitaine. Leur nuisibilité potentielle vis-à-vis des végétaux est indirecte mais elles méritent d’être signalées ici. Description - Après présentation de leurs points communs, les sept espèces signalées en France métropolitaine à la date...
Non-indigenous terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes) have been recorded in thirteen European countries. They include Bipalium kewense and Dolichoplana striata that are largely restricted to hothouses and may be regarded as non-invasive species. In addition there are species from the southern hemisphere such as the invasive New Zealand flatworm Ar...
The blue land planarian Caenoplana coerulea is reported from Argentina (Buenos Aires province). We found C. coerulea in the east central region of Argentina in anthropic environments. The specimens that we found have the characteristic of the species found in others regions; that is, a bluish dorsal surface with a yellow mid-dorsal stripe and eyes...
The blue land planarian Caenoplana coerulea is reported from Argentina (Buenos Aires province). We found C. coerulea in the east central region of Argentina in anthropic environments. The specimens that we found have the characteristic of the species found in others regions; that is, a bluish dorsal surface with a yellow middorsal stripe and eyes...
Knowledge of the cosmopolitan land planarian Bipalium kewense is briefly reviewed. A neotype and paraneotypes are designated. External morphology and internal anatomy of the species are redescribed. Karyological studies on B. kewense reveal a diploid chromosome complement of 16; one subtelocentric, three submetacentric and four metacentric chromoso...
The new species Dugesia notogaea Sluys & Kawakatsu, sp. n. is described from Queensland, Australia, representing the first record of the genus Dugesia for that continent. A phylogenetic analysis of the 68 species of Dugesia resulted in the discovery of a new apomorphy for the genus, and a cladogram showing two major phyletic groups. The distributio...
[Extract] Triclads, also commonly known as flatworms or planarians, occur in marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. They form an order within the turbellarian or free-living Platyhelminthes. The Platyhelminthes form a large phylum containing up to 15,000 described species, with many others yet to be described. Platyhelminthes are conventi...
Geoplanid land planarians found near Johannesburg, South Africa, and in a hothouse in Liverpool, UK, could be identified either
as Parakontikia ventrolineata (Dendy, 1892) or as Kontikia mexicana (Hyman, 1939). Comparison of the specimens with P. ventrolineata
type specimens and other material and with published descriptions of K. mexicana shows no...
Diverticula are present in the copulatory organs of many species of the Terricola. In some species these structures are copulatory
bursae or resorptive vesicles. The function of diverticula present in the copulatory organs in species of Dolichoplana and
Platydemus (Rhynchodemidae), in Australoplana (Geoplanidae) and in some other caenoplaninid gene...
The taxonomy of terrestrial flatworms is presently based upon a combination of external morphological characters, and internal anatomical characters revealed by histological investigation. Uncertainties regarding the functional anatomy of Terricolan organ systems, particularly the copulatory apparatus, have hindered the exploitation of available ch...
Methods for the collection, handling, fixation, histological, and storage procedures used in the taxonomic studies of terrestrial flatworms (land planarians) are provided. In general, specimens are best narcotised in 10% ethanol, and morphology preserved using a formaldehyde calcium cobalt fixative; long-term specimen storage is in 80% ethanol. Spe...
Terrestrial flatworms are carnivorous soil animals which maintain their moisture requirements by vertical migration through a continuum of microhabitats between soil, litter and vegetation. Over 800 species are known and several show human-mediated distribution patterns. Recent molecular studies of the Tricladida have cast doubt on the monophyly of...
Australian terrestrial flatworms number more than 137 known species of which 70% are described. The total fauna is estimated to be in excess of 300 species. The flatworms mostly occur within hyper-humid to sub-arid moisture regions, and are assigned to two principal families. In the Rhynchodemidae: Rhynchodeminae 35 species are accommodated in Coty...
Traditionally used methods for collecting and preserving terrestrial flatworms have proved deficient in various respects. Comparison of methods for preparing these animals for taxonomic study has shown that preservation of morphological characters can best be achieved using formaldehyde-calcium-cobalt fixative and subsequent storage in an aqueous s...
Larval trematode (Family Bucephalidae) infection of Tridacna crocea (Lamarck 1819) was investigated to determine pathological effects on the host. Of 108 T. crocea examined, 13 (12 %) were found to be parasitised. The bucephalid caused castration in heavily infected clams, gonadal tissue being completely replaced by sporocysts. The parasite was als...
Knowledge of this cosmopolitan land planarian is briefly reviewed. The external morphology and anatomy of the copulatory organs are considered with emphasis on the variation of taxonomic characters. This species can be distinguished from similar planarians by differences in markings, particularly those of the head and neck; positions of body apertu...
A posteriorly bifid example of the Antarctic heteronemertean Parborlasia corrugatus (McIntosh, 1876) is described and illustrated. Histological studies reveal that in the basal portion of one tail fork the body wall muscles and intestinal diverticula are less well deloped than in other regions, and that gonads are missing. It is concluded that the...
Three cases of pseudoparasitism of a pullet, Pygmy possum and domestic cat by geoplanid land planarians are reported. Unlike similar reports from Japan and America, there is no implication of gastrointestinal pseudoparasitism in these Australian cases. It is believed that the incidents described arose from accidental attachment of land planarians t...
The use of Oblique Illumination and Interference Contrast microscopy to visualize taxonomically
important anatomical structures in faded tissue sections of Land Planarians is described. These have obviated the need to subject valuable Type specimens to potentially harmful re-staining procedures otherwise required to observe tissue structures.
Projects
Projects (2)
To substantially progress the taxonomic revisions of some Australian land planarian taxa (Rhynchodeminae) that I initiated prior to and as part of previous studies. It aims to be a small contribution to knowledge of the Australian land planarians fauna as part of the taxonomy and biosystematics decadal plan 2018-2027. The revisions include taxa erected in my provisional classification of land planarians (Caenoplanini) including Australoplana, Lenkunya, and Parakontikia, additional new taxa arising from these studies, and also species of Rhynchodemini.
Review of described taxa and erection of new taxa of land planarians of the Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, and the provision of a checklist of genera and species. The current work will complete this long standing study.