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Shovel-headed flatworm (planaria)

Description:

Spotted at the main entrance of Cacupangan Cave System, Brgy. Tagudin, Mabini, Pangasinan.

Habitat:

Description based on Bipalium kewense:The Shovel-headed Garden Worm, like other flatworms, does not have a respiratory or circulatory system, a skeleton, or an anus. The mouth, which also serves as the anus, is found near the middle of the body on the lower, or ventral, side. It has a protrusible muscular pharynx that is used as a feeding organ; this is attached to a three-branched intestine. Shovel-headed Garden Worms are carnivorous, feeding on earthworms, insects and insect larvae, and young snails and slugs. They detect their prey using chemical receptors found in a pit on the underside of the head. The head-waving allows the worm to hone in on the chemical cues emitted from its prey. Struggling prey are held close to the substrate and entangled in slimy secretions from the worm. The pharynx is protruded from the mouth and into the prey, which is reduced to small particles prior to digestion. The food particles are stored inside the body, and the worm can survive for many weeks, but shrinking in size, between meals. They are also capable of digesting their own tissues, such as the reproductive organs, for food when other reserves are depleted. Source: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Shovel-he...

Notes:

Photo by Jerry Rendon

1 Species ID Suggestions

Shovel-headed Garden Worm
Bipalium sp. Shovel-headed Garden Worm - Australian Museum


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9 Comments

benvallero
benvallero 3 years ago

Entering Ecological Deadzone. Adding report to Databank.

LisaSchlangerFurr
LisaSchlangerFurr 8 years ago

Just found one of these in our backyard in South Texas 😊

Thanks for your comments, ya'al!

Maria dB
Maria dB 12 years ago

Wow, an auto-cannibalistic creature! Thanks for sharing.

Seema
Seema 12 years ago

Wonderful...reminds of hammerhead shark

Jonathan Sequeira
Jonathan Sequeira 12 years ago

Super

Birding For Fun
Birding For Fun 12 years ago

Very interesting creature.

LuisStevens
LuisStevens 12 years ago

When I was a little boy found very similar worms under some rocks in my house´s garden. Since then, I had never seen them again or know anyone who knew them. Thanks for spotting this, I can show them to my family now.

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 12 years ago

Wow incredible worm!
Grate spotting

Mabini, Ilocos Region, Philippines

Spotted on Feb 24, 2009
Submitted on Feb 24, 2012

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