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Platyhelminthes

Australoplana spp.

Description:

When I upturned a rock in the garden there was a flattened pile of pale orange jelly. As it was suddenly exposed to the sun it came alive and turned out to be two geoplanarians. They quickly stretched out looking for darkness and moisture so I poured a little water onto the rock. They found their way down the wet trail into shade in about 30 seconds. Both were about 80mm long fully extended. The pointy end is the head... eyes at the other end !!

Habitat:

Under rocks in an outer urban back yard.

Notes:

"..a member of the Australoplana alba complex. The members of this group are characterized by a row of very small eyes that contour the anterior tip and pass along the lateral edge of the worm to the hind end. The members of the group are all strap like (dorso-ventrally flattened), tapering posteriorly towards an abruptly truncated hind end" ... "They are - for flatworms - fast moving carnivores that feed on earthworms and other soil and litter fauna. " - Dr Leigh Winsor.

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4 Comments

armadeus.4
armadeus.4 9 years ago

Wicked! I have never even heard of these before! Thank you for sharing Mark :)

CharliePrice
CharliePrice 9 years ago

Interesting and creepy all at the same time :) excellent find though

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 9 years ago

They are a bit creepy to watch Sukanya. And they show no mercy to earthworms at all.

SukanyaDatta
SukanyaDatta 9 years ago

How cool is this!!! I have never, ever seen a live Platyhelminth.
Wow and double wow.

Mark Ridgway
Spotted by
Mark Ridgway

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Oct 20, 2014
Submitted on Oct 28, 2014

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