Hammerhead Worm

Description:

First time to actually see one of these. It was about 4 cm in length, brown with darker brown stripes down the body. It looks very much like Bipalium kewense, of asian origen. These are land Planarians or flatworms of the family Geoplanidae. There are many species based on the head shape and color pattern. All are carnivorous predators, feeding on earthworms, slugs, insect larvae and other soft soil creatures. They are often referred to as "Immortal" since they can regenerate body parts as well as regenerate themselves from a single body part or section. They have both sexual and asexual reproduction, the latter being the most common. If this is B. kewense, 4 cm is very small. They are known to reach 20 cm or more. They have a peculiar method of movement, using a "creeping sole" of cilia which moves over a thick secretion of mucous. Some is visible in the 2nd picture. Since it was on a cement driveway, I decided to move it to a moist soil environment. It was really difficult to pick up, even with forceps. The mucous is incredibly thick and sticky, much more so than that of a snail or slug.

Habitat:

Found at night, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.

Notes:

https://www.thoughtco.com/hammerhead-wor... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipalium http://www.royaljozini.com/hammerheads-i... http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/wakullaco/2019...