Promoted
Terrestrial flatworms (Australoplana sanguinea)
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 !!
Identity is a mystery... the following is a quote from Dr Leigh Winsor our national 'expert'.
"..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.
Nut the names are not found in our national faunal lists.
No species identified
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comments (4)
PS: you seem to know the species, shall I create the record for it? Posted 9 years ago
If Leigh Windsor won't go to species level on it then I wouldn't argue with him.
Whether we put that name in the database is up to you. After the chat with Leigh I wish I had tried to snap the back end where all the eyes are. I think it's weird to only see where you've been in life and not where you're going. ;-) Posted 5 years ago
Believe it or not I felt sorry for these things.. it was about 41C that day and no rain for weeks. Posted 5 years ago