"Microturbellarian" flatworms (Platyhelminthes) from freshwater pools: New species and records from Israel

Few papers have been published on "Turbellaria" in Israel, and of those, most concern "Turbellaria" from marine environments. In the present study, 22 freshwater species from Israel are reported. Ten of these species are new to Israel, and two are new to science. A detailed description of two species new to science from the family Typhloplanidae is given (Castrada multispina sp. nov. and Castradella biacantha sp. nov.). Typhloplanidae (Order Rhabdocoela) is the best represented family in this study with 16 species, compared to only 4 species from the family Dalyelliidae (Order Rhabdocoela) and the 2 Stenostomum-species. The faunal composition of the " microturbellarians" of Israel proved to be very similar to that of lentic environments in Europe, with the exception of the newly described species currently known only from Israel.