Other Invertebrates
Flatworms (Platyhelminthes)
Sighting 4377782

Caenoplana coerulea

Blue Planarian, Blue Garden Flatworm at Farrer, ACT

Caenoplana coerulea at Farrer, ACT - 26 Mar 2021 09:49 AM
Caenoplana coerulea at Farrer, ACT - 26 Mar 2021 09:49 AM
Caenoplana coerulea at Farrer, ACT - 26 Mar 2021 09:49 AM
Caenoplana coerulea at Farrer, ACT - 26 Mar 2021 09:49 AM
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Identification history

Caenoplana coerulea 2 Apr 2021 turb
Unverified 2 Apr 2021 DebK

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User's notes

Found this ~150mm "worm" crossing a concrete footpath with fences & surburban gardens on either side. It is a ribbon worm?

3 comments

turb wrote:
   2 Apr 2021
No, it is not a ribbon worm / proboscis worm (terrestrial nemertean).

Rather it is the Blue garden worm Caenoplana coerulea. It is a native species of eastern Australia, and commonly reported from urban gardens. Using a hand lens you could see that the minute eyes contour margin of the head, cluster on the sides, then continue towards the tail in a single row. The mouth on a planarian is situated on its belly (but in the front of the head in a nemertean).
The name ribbon worm best applies to the often extremely long marine nemerteans. Proboscis worm is a better choice for the land nemerteans. The are relatively small generally no more than 50 mm long, with a rounded head, and eyes in four groups. When gently prodded they usually evert a long whitish coloured proboscis that attaches to the substratum, then pulls the body towards it - an escape reaction.
turb wrote:
   2 Apr 2021
DebK wrote:
   2 Apr 2021
So a flatworm (Planarian) not a segmented worm (Oligochaeta). Thanks turb

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