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Predatory land flatworm

Bipalium sp.

Description:

Land planarians devour earthworms, slugs, insect larvae, and are cannibalistic. Prey are located by chemoreceptors located in a single ciliated pit under the head or in a ciliated ventral groove. this one was 13cm and had a 3cm tail which fell off to become another planarian, Reproduction is principally by fragmentation at the posterior end. Lateral margins pinch in about 1 cm from the tail tip. Severance occurs when the posterior fragment adheres to the substrate and the parent worm pulls away. The posterior fragment is motile immediately, and within seven to 10 days a lightly pigmented head begins to form. One to two fragments are released each month.

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WildAdventress
Spotted by
WildAdventress

Newcastle Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Spotted on Apr 13, 2015
Submitted on Apr 13, 2015

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