"cannibalistic"

#11524229

29 August 2024

''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.

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#11524232

29 August 2024

''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.

Restricted to Editorial Use Only.
Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
Please contact us for more information.