Areas of endemism of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) in the Southern Atlantic Forest

Researchers identified nine distinct areas of endemism (AoE) for land planarians in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest, from Rio de Janeiro to Rio Grande do Sul. These AoE, characterized by two or more endemic species with congruent range limits, provide critical insights into biogeographic patterns and evolutionary processes. The study employed Endemicity Analysis (EA) and Geographical Interpolation of Endemism (GIE) methods, revealing that land planarians often exhibit very small distributional ranges. This makes them valuable models for fine-scale studies of endemism, with their AoE showing congruence with other taxa like harvestmen. The findings suggest that these patterns are influenced by vicariance events and the species' physiological and ecological limitations.

Lago-Barcia, D., DaSilva, M. B., Conti, L. A., & Carbayo, F. (2020). Areas of endemism of land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) in the Southern Atlantic Forest. Plos One, 15(7), e0235949. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235949