Flatworms

A new flatworm has been discovered in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Azores Archipelago, at a depth of 53 to 410 m.
It represents a new genus and a new species: Anthoplana antipathellae.

This tiny animal – up to 50 mm long – lives in symbiosis with the black coral Antipathella subpinnata, from which it is barely distinguishable because of its cryptic mimicry.

Bo M., Bavestrello G., Di Muzio G., Canese S., Betti F. (2019). First record of a symbiotic relationship between a polyclad and a black coral with description of Anthoplana antipathellae gen. et sp. nov. (Acotylea, Notoplanidae). Marine Biodiversity, 1-22