Brilliant flatworm

This flatworm with fine lines is sometimes seen on our Northern shores. 'Fulgor' means 'brilliant' or 'flashy' or 'lightning' and 'splendor' in Latin.

8-10cm long. Usually with deep ruffles. Body red, brown to black, with fine white parallel lines from the centre to the sides. Black wide margin with fine white lines parallel to the edge.The underside is plain pink with wide plain black margin. It has a pair of erect pseudotentacles at the front made up of folded edges of the body. Juveniles may have fewer lines.

Pseudobiceros is a genus of flatworms. Like all flatworms, Pseudobiceros are hermaphrodites. This particular genus engages in penis fencing. When the "winner" touches its penis to the 'skin' of the other, insemination occurs, and the "loser" has to bear the burden of motherhood.

Species

According to WoRMS, species include:

• Pseudobiceros bedfordi (Laidlaw, 1903)
• Pseudobiceros cinereus (Palombi, 1931)
• Pseudobiceros evelinae (Marcus, 1950)
• Pseudobiceros ferrugineus (Hyman, 1959)
• Pseudobiceros flavomarginatus (Laidlaw, 1902)
• Pseudobiceros fulvogriseus (Hyman, 1959)
• Pseudobiceros gardinieri (Laidlaw, 1902)
• Pseudobiceros izuensis (Kato, 1944)
• Pseudobiceros micronesianus (Hyman, 1955)
• Pseudobiceros miniatus (Schmarda, 1859)
• Pseudobiceros nigromarginatus (Yeri & Kaburaki, 1918)
• Pseudobiceros philippinensis (Kaburaki, 1923)
• Pseudobiceros rubrocinctus (Schmarda, 1859)
• Pseudobiceros schmardae Faubel, 1984
• Pseudobiceros splendidus (Lang, 1884)
• Pseudobiceros strigosus (Marcus, 1950)
• Pseudobiceros undulatus (Kelaart, 1858)
• Pseudobiceros viridis (Kelaart, 1858)