Another worm

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:20 am

Another very big flat freshwater worm. No idea wat kind.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:52 am

Jan, very nice photos, I like especially the 3rd from above.

And you've already written what it is

: your specimen belongs to the flatworms, or Platyhelminthes (there's posh), more specific one of the free living "Turbellaria".

--Betty

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 12:03 pm

O.K., thanks very much Betty. A beautiful animal.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:09 am

Looking at #3, it looks like he has recently eaten some diatoms?

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 7:33 am

That are not diatoms but it's a part of his eating system where his food goes true.

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:49 am

This worm has a telescopic tongue !!

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:52 am

Ah, now I see how it works. He must use that to scrape the surface for things growing on it.

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:19 am

I didn't see it the first time. This is another worm of the same kind.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:57 pm

Jan, these two last photos are especially nice!

This worm has a telescopic tongue !!

Actually it's not working like a 'tongue', it's called a pharynx and works more like an extendable tube the animal uses to suck in or gobble up its prey or other food items. Mostly, the pharynx is situated more to the midst of the body, on the ventral side. This pharynx is the only opening of the animal's intestine ( so called gastrovascular system), there's no mouth at the head or an anus at the other end.

Look, here is a video that shows the pharynx of a turbellar very nicely:
http://vimeo.com/17442080

--Betty

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 1:11 am

Thanks very much for this info Betty.
Very nice video.

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:11 am

last two pics are wonderful!
best
arturo

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:29 am

Thanks Arturo.