Is it a snake? Is it a worm? And guess the name!
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325878)
Rockingham, Australia
March 24, 2024 10:36pm CST
I heard about a very interesting creature the other day. I thought it was a snake but it’s actually a flatworm.
The genus is ‘Bipalium’ , loosely called ‘hammerhead worms’ or ‘broadhead planarians’ as the head area is shaped like a hammerhead, as you can see in the photo. There are several species and all are hermaphrodite. Some reproduce simply by splitting themselves in two.
What I found especially interesting is that the mouth parts are located in the centre of the body. Enzymes are secreted which commence the digestion of their food, which are usually earthworms or snails, although they are also cannibalistic.
They are native to Africa and Asia but are now an invasive species in America and possibly other countries. They have no known predators and can be a threat in greenhouses because of their predilection for earthworms.
There are certainly some odd-looking creatures on our planet.
21 people like this
24 responses
@marguicha (215518)
• Chile
25 Mar
It looked like a tapeworm to me and I confess that I found it quite disgusting. I dread that some of those worms might get inside me by any means.
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95319)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Mar
They are ugly and don't sound very useful
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95319)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Mar
@JudyEv Thankfully I haven't seen any here
1 person likes this
@mildredtabitha (16049)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Mar
Thank you for sharing about this worm with us. It definitely looks like a snake on the photo. I agree, it's very odd-looking.
2 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16049)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Mar
@JudyEv I've never seen it physically.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170083)
• United States
25 Mar
I never saw anything like that before.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86768)
• United States
25 Mar
They are really gross looking Judy.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36460)
• Toccoa, Georgia
25 Mar
It's a weird looking worm in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
26 Mar
They are odd looking. I must ask my daughter about them as an invasive species. As an inspector she sees all manner of bugs, fungi, plants etc.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99392)
• Canada
25 Mar
I have never heard them before. They are an odd looking creature.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45501)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
25 Mar
Oh, I think I can name a predator for them: little kids who like to stomp on worms...
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16537)
• China
25 Mar
They look strange and give me gooseflesh ! I know ricefield eels are hermaphrodite too.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73506)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Mar
I have heard about flatworms, Ugly looking thing, Thanks for the info,
1 person likes this
@zainkhan121 (671)
• Pakistan
25 Mar
Indeed, the flatworms of the genus Bipalium are fascinating with their hammerhead-shaped heads and unique feeding habits
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325878)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Mar
It's weird to know that the mouth of the worm is in the middle of its body!
@JudyEv (325878)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Mar
There are indeed but some we don't often hear about.