Most planaria are aquatic, that is, they live in water. Bipalium kewense is one of the few which live on land. Originating in the wet forests of southeast Asia, it has spread throughout the world as stowaways in pots of plant specimens. It eats earthworms and slugs, among other things. B. kewense has become well established in the gardens of this part of California.
One never knows
what one might
find when turning over an object which has been lying on damp
ground. Is it a worm? a slug? or just a slimy mess?
likes dark places), it soon begins it unwind as it heads for the
nearest shadow. The head, flattened and wider than the body, is
characteristic of planaria in general.
Here we see a
planarian eating an
earthworm. The back part of the
planarian is coiled over the part
of the earthworm which is being digested. Flatworms must digest
their food outside their bodies.
measured at about 25
cm in length. (Sorry about the archaic inches on the ruler, one
uses what is close at hand.)
and you can see
the slime trail left behind by the planarian. It is similar to
trails left by slugs and snails.
[Taxonomy : Classification]
[Animals] [Back Yard Biology] [Science Can Be Fun]