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Hammerhead Worm - Bipalium - Animal India
''Hammerhead worms,'' or ''Broadhead planarians'' (genus Bipalium), are large predatory, carnivorous, and even cannibalistic land planarians. Some species prey on earthworms, while others may also feed on mollusks. They are called hammerhead worms due to the distinctive shape of their head region. Land planarians are unique in possessing a ''creeping sole,'' a highly ciliated region on the ventral epidermis that aids in their movement over substrates. Native to Asia, several species have become invasive in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Some studies have begun investigating the evolutionary ecology of these invasive planarians. Reproduction in Bipalium can be either asexual or sexual, and all species are hermaphroditic. A hammerhead worm was observed in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on August 28, 2024, displaying its characteristic slender or elongated body, moving in a snake-like fashion with its head bobbing from side to side. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)
Photo Details
| Photo ID | #11524232 |
|---|---|
| Date Taken | |
| Location | N/A |
| Photographer | Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto |
| Category | Human Interest |
| Copyright | © 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto |
Related Keywords
Hammerhead worms
Broadhead planarians
Bipalium
predatory
carnivorous
cannibalistic
land planarians
earthworms
mollusks
distinctive head shape
creeping sole
ciliated ventral epidermis
movement
substrates
native to Asia
invasive species
United States
Canada
Europe
evolutionary ecology
asexual reproduction
sexual reproduction
hermaphroditic
Tehatta
West Bengal
India
August 28
2024
slender body
elongated body
snake-like movement
head bobbing
Soumyabrata Roy
NurPhoto.
2026 NurPhoto. All rights reserved.
This image is the property of NurPhoto and is protected under international copyright laws.
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