AMERICAN NEARCTIC AND NEOTROPICAL LAND PLANARIAN (TRICLADIDA, TERRICOLA) FAUNAS

Land planarian faunas of North, Central and South America are outlined and their affinities and origins discussed. The three families Bipali idae, Rhynchodemidae and Geoplanidae are variously present. Bipaliidae are represented primarily by Bipalium kewense, an introduced cosmopol itan species. In North America the exotic B. adventitium and B. pennsy lvanicum also occur. Rhynchodemidae (Rhynchodeminae) (Rhynchodemus, Do lichoplana) are few with limited distribution, although Rhynchodemus s ylvaticus occurs in North and South America, as well as Europe; Rhynch odemidae: Microplaninae: (Microplana, Diporodemus) occur in both Nearc tic and Neotropical America, while Incapora (I. weyrauchi) is found on ly in Peru). Geoplanidae have greatest abundance and diversity in Braz il. In North America, all terrestrial flatworm species are introduced. In South America, on the other hand, the Geoplanidae: Geoplaninae are endemic with several specialized genera and show the greatest diversi ty. Species of Geoplana in South America are the most widespread and d iverse in the world. Unusual genera of Geoplaninae found only in Brazi l are: Chaeradoplana, Enterosyringa, Issoca, Geobia, Xeropoa. The mono typic genus Polycladus occurs only in Chile.