Lukhnev A.G. & Timoshkin O.A. (2015). The First Record of Otomesostoma auditivum Forel et Du Plessis 1874 (Turbellaria, Proseriata, Otomesostomidae) in Asia: Overcoming Immiscibility Barriers in Lake Baikal?. Biology Bulletin. 42(9): 775-783.
The First Record of Otomesostoma auditivum Forel et Du Plessis 1874 (Turbellaria, Proseriata, Otomesostomidae) in Asia: Overcoming Immiscibility Barriers in Lake Baikal?
Biology Bulletin
42(9): 775-783
Publication
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This paper is the third in a series of publications devoted to the fauna of Otomesostomidae in Lake Baikal. Illustrated descriptions and diagnoses of three species and two genera endemic to Lake Baikal were given in the previous articles. The close morphological resemblance of endemic Baikal otomesostomids to Otomesostoma auditivum Forel et Du Plessis 1874 widely spread in Europe and North America is evident. Therefore, this species was considered as closely related to a hypothetical ancestor of endemics (Timoshkin et al., 2010; Lukhnev et al., 2011). Recently, O. auditivum was found in the open littoral of Baikal. An illustrated description of this rare species is given. A record of Holarctic O. auditivum coexisting with endemic species in the littoral of the open lake is of particular interest not only from a zoogeographical viewpoint (the first record to the south of the Urals) and the origin of the fauna of endemic Otomesostomidae but also with respect to the so-called immiscibility of Baikalian and Palearctic faunas.
