Caenoplana coerulea

Caenoplana coerulea
Caenoplana coerulea, the Blue Planarian.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Turbellaria
Order: Tricladida
Suborder: Geoplanidae
Genus: Caenoplana
Species: C. coerulea
Binomial name
Caenoplana coerulea
Moseley, 1877

Caenoplana coerulea, known as the Blue Planarian or Blue Garden Flatworm is a species of land flatworm, a terrestrial turbellarian.

Range

This flatworm's native range is eastern Australia and New Zealand. This species has however been accidentally introduced to the USA, including California, Florida, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina and Iowa and was once spotted in Kilkenny, Ireland on New Building lane. [1]

Habitat

It is found in moist forest areas, and during drier periods it shelters under rocks, rotting logs and in leaf litter. It is often seen after periods of heavy rain.

Life habits

This planarian is a predator of invertebrates on the forest floor.

Description

This is a long narrow flatworm, which is shiny black or dark brown on the upper surface, and mid-blue underneath (hence the specific epithet and the common name of "blue planarian".) There is a narrow creamy/fawn coloured longitudinal stripe running down the center of the upper surface. Multiple eyespots are present. The head on some individuals has a pinkish appearance. The adult length is 6 to 12 cm.

Gallery

Showing color variation and more detail

References

  1. ↑ Ogren, R. E. 2001. The Blue Planarian: A New Locality


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