Bipalium adventitium
| Bipalium adventitium | |
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| Species: | B. adventitium
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| Binomial name | |
| Bipalium adventitium Hyman, 1943
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Bipalium adventitium is a predatory flatworm in the family Geoplanidae from Asia. It has been accidentally introduced elsewhere, including in North America, where it is considered invasive. Common names given to it and its close relatives are "broadhead planarian" and "hammerhead worm" because of the characteristic head shape.
Appearance
Most adult B. adventitium are 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) in length.[1] They have a wider head than body, in the shape of a half moon. The body has a yellow to tan color and has one dark dorsal stripe.[1]
Behaviour
Predation
This species is predatory, just like other Bipalium, and preys on earthworms. In order for B. adventitium to catch its prey, it follows a chemical trail given off by the earthworm.[2] Chemoreceptors on the head are responsible for sensing the trail of the earthworm.[3]
Reproduction
Bipalium adventitium can reproduce by different methods. It is suggested that these terrestrial planarians have only one breeding season per year.[1] Reproduction commonly occurs in B. adventitium by sexual reproduction. An egg capsule carries the offspring for around 3 weeks before hatching to give 1-6 juveniles.[4]
Invasion of North America
Bipalium adventitium is believed to have been introduced in the last century to the United States from Asia. It is believed that this broadhead planarian was introduced and spread to most Northern states passively by human dispersal and has become abundant in the region it occupies.[5] It is more commonly found in suburban areas and nurseries where exotic plants are prevalent.[1] The ecological consequences of this invasion have not yet been fully explored.
References
- ^ a b c d Ducey, P. K., and S. Noce. 1998. Successful invasion of New York State by the terrestrial flatworm, Bipalium adventitium. Northeastern Naturalist 5(3):199-206.
- ^ Fiore, C., J. L. Tull, S. Zehner, and P. K. Ducey. 2004. Tracking and predation on earthworms by the invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium adventitium (Tricladida, Platyhelminthes). Behavioural Processes 67:327-334.
- ^ Fernandes, M. C., E.P. Alvares, P. Gama, and M. Silveira. 2001. The sensory border of the land planarian Bipalium kewense (Tricladida, Terricola). Belgium Journal of Zoology 131 (supplement 1):173-178.
- ^ Ducey, P. K., L-J. West, G. Shaw, J. DeLisle. 2005. Reproductive ecology and evolution in the invasive terrestrial planarian Bipalium adventitium across North America. Pedobiologia 49:367-377.
- ^ Ogren, R.E. 1984. Exotic land planarians of the genus Bipalium (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria) from Pennsylvania and the academy of natural sciences, Philadelphia. Proc. of the Penn. Acad. of Sci. 58: 193-201.