Neue kriechede ctenophoren der gattung Coeloplana aus Madagaskar

Three new species of creeping ctenophores of the genus Coeloplana were found as ectocommensals on the octocoral Sarcophyton spec. in the Indian Ocean, near Madagascar, at water depths down to 45 m. The species are described as Coeloplana wuennenbergi, Coeloplana lineolata and Coeloplana punctata. Some observations on the biology and behaviour of these species were made in the field and under laboratory conditions. The new Coeloplaae differ from other Coeloplanae in colouration, colourmarks, position, and number of the aboral papillae, and in specific host-preference. The systematic significance of most characteristics, thus far described of Coeloplanae, are discussed and summarized in Table 1.