Flatworms (Platyhelmintes: Tricladida) in the Czech Republik

This work focuses on the freshwater triclads and summarizes information about species occurring in the Czech Republic. Particular chapters concerned generally with taxonomy, anatomy and ecology of triclads; morphology, ecology and occurrence of each species is discussed in detail. 17 triclad species were recorded in the Czech Republic before now, some of them are considered as endemics. The majority of common triclads is determinable according to the head shape, but determination of Dugesia lugubris, D. polychroa a Polycelis nigra, P. tenuis is possible only based on the penis morphology. Some species can be regard as bioindicators, because of their narrow ecological requirements: cold water with high content of O2 - Dugesia gonocephala, Crenobia alpina, Polycelis felina; higher concentration of Ca2+ - D. gonocephala, Phagocata vitta, Planaria torva; oligotrophic standing waters - Polycelis nigra; eutrophic standing waters - Dugesia polychroa, Polycelis tenuis. Species of underground waters and springs are interesting and still unexplored ecological group of triclads