the eastern striped skink ( ctenotus robustus ) is a species of skink found in a wide variety of habitats in australia .

a robust lizard with complex markings and patterns .

the snout to vent length is around 123 mm .

ctenotus robustus

note that skinks previously known as ctenotus borealis are now considered to be ctenotus robustus .
ctenotus : ' comb ear ' , refering to the comb - like projections at the ear opening . robustus : ' robust ' .
large , easily recognised ( see photos ) ctenotus robustus is the most common of two ctenotis species of its size on magnetic island and has very distinctive striped patterning .
bjursell , a . 2001 . ctenotus robustus , james cook university , urltoken . cogger , h . , 1988 . reptiles and amphibians of australia , reed books .
dna testing has shown that specimens from nsw , victoria or southern qld as well as sa are actually ctenotus spaldingi which would make all the photos on this page ctenotus spaldingi . another name for ctenotus spaldingi is the straight - browed ctenotus however that common name may no longer remain in use !
the above specimen is from brisbane , qld . note that ctenotus arcanus found in south - east qld also looks very similar to the photos above !
some authors do not accept the recent name changes . it is possible that at some stage in the future the name ctenotus josephinae may be be used for some skinks in this complex
as with all ctenotus species robusta has 5 fingers / toes on each limb , an easily seen ear opening , shiny skin , is diurnal , sun loving and very very quick .
c . robustus is probably distributed all over magnetic island . it is definitely in all the bay areas and at west point and has also been noticed right up gustav creek and on hills bounding horseshoe bay and arcadia . this skink has a know association with granite areas .
the species most closely resembling the striped skink is the spotted - back skink ( ctenotus uber orientalis ) , however , the striped skink has a solid stripe running either side of its back , while the spotted - back skink has a row of dots .
horner , p . g . & king , m . 1986 ,
a new species of ctenotus ( scincidae , reptilia ) from the northern territory
, the beagle , records of the museums and art galleries of the northern territory , vol . 2 , no . 1 , pp . 143 - 148
rabosky , d . l . , hutchinson , m . n . , donnellan , c . c . , talaba , a . l . & lovette , i . j . 2014 ,
phylogenetic disassembly of species boundaries in a widespread group of australian skinks ( scincidae : ctenotus ) .
, molecular phylogenetics and evolution , vol . 77 , pp . 71–82
notes and disclaimer this information may not be complete . while all care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this page , primary sources should always be consulted for definitive information . animals have an endearing habit of disobeying the rules , so the information on this page should be interpreted with a degree of flexibility . the author and site operator accepts no responsibility for any losses or damages incurred through using this web site or the information contained herein . don ' t get bitten by anything ! this page may be cited as : ctenotus robustus at the australian reptile online database . last updated 2017 - 02 - 21 09 : 21 : 22 . retrieved from urltoken on the 10th of july , 2018 . before citing information contained in arod , please read our citing arod page . copyright notice this page , its content and layout are copyright © 2007 - 2018 stewart macdonald / ug media , unless otherwise stated . all photographs in the australian reptile online database are © the photographer and may not be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the photographer . no part of the australian reptile online database may be reproduced without written permission from stewart macdonald .
if you have images for this taxon that you would like to share with atlas of living australia , please upload using the upload tools .
wells , r . w . & wellington , c . r . 1984 ,
a synopsis of the class reptilia in australia
, australian journal of herpetology , vol . 1 , no . 3 - 4 , pp . 73 - 129
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 3f6c4529 - 1123 - 46e8 - b234 - b3745cfd2883
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 5ccc19f4 - ae4c - 4d17 - b1b1 - 7cb170259c46
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 63c418d0 - 4fbe - 402f - 9c5d - f6b4049e5757
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 70fbfd12 - 1823 - 4df5 - 9450 - af2e7d46b5af
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : ba87027c - a0c2 - 4440 - b8d5 - 4881ec9d836e
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : c2fc4b0b - 5469 - 4887 - 9f1a - f791ed556d40
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : f2f438fc - ce60 - 48be - a6d7 - ffe83e9595f2
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . taxon : 27a72cf9 - 2444 - 409d - 9668 - b34fb9e5cf84
urn : lsid : biodiversity . org . au : afd . name : 324442
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note : these are general threats and may not apply to this particular species .
there are many ways you can help our reptiles . here are my top three suggestions :
note : the links below are automatically generated . some may not take you to useful information .
this sleek lizard was basking at the edge of a steep incline just a foot or so off of the trail i was hiking . i was lucky to spot it in the mix of live and dry grasses . it had clearly also spotted me , and after two photos it rocketed off .
i next encountered one of these skinks under a downed log . when i lifted the log , i saw a flash of movement as the skink dove into a nearby burrow . i stayed in the area for a little while to photograph other nearby lizards , and soon this skink reappeared at the edge of the log . i approached slowly , but it retreated under the log anyway . however , this time i knew where it might try to hide next , so i lifted the log again and quickly covered the burrow with my hand . the skink first ran toward the burrow , then noticed my hand and ran off to a nearby pile of small rocks , where it shimmied under one . when i carefully moved that one , it raced off to another . this went on for ten or fifteen minutes . it never stayed exposed for more than a few seconds , and eventually i gave up . the only photos i managed to get were with my iphone when the skink paused to decide how to navigate my shoe . ( its eventual decision : up and over . )
this one was on the move when i noticed it . i followed it around from a distance for a short while , until it paused to soak up some sun . apparently the undersides of its front legs especially needed warming .
wilson , s . and swan , g . 2017 . a complete guide to reptiles of australia , fifth edition
australian reptile photos , distribution maps and information this site covers snakes and lizards , crocodiles and turtles , including colubrid snakes , pythons , elapids ( called cobras or coral snakes in some countries ) , sea snakes , file snakes , blind ( or worm ) snakes , sea turtles , freshwater turtles ( or tortoises ) dragon lizards ( agamas ) , gecko ' s , legless lizards , monitor lizards ( often called goanna ' s in australia ) , skinks and crocodilia .
a very common and widespread species often found under rocks . extremely fast runner in warm weather .
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continent : australia distribution : australia ( new south wales , north territory , queensland , south australia , victoria , west australia ) type locality : barrow creek , in 21° 31’ s , 133° 53’e , n . t .
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threats to the species on a regional level include the modification of previous habitat areas for urban development .
within the suburban area , the main threat to the species is disturbance within relatively unmodified habitats such as nature reserves .
within the urban area , the main action canberrans can take for assisting the species is to minimise disturbance ( such as collection of wood or interference by pets ) to potential habitats .
the striped skink is mostly brown above , with a black stripe with white edges running down the centre of the back and tail . a black and a white line run side by side down the upper flanks , while the skink ' s sides are dark , speckled with paler brown . the sides become lighter towards the underside of the lizard . the striped skink is relatively large , growing to a maximum length of around 30cm , including the tail which may make up 2 / 3 of its length .
the striped skink occupies extensive areas of eastern and northern australia . its range extends from northern parts of western australia and the northern territory , through eastern queensland and into new south wales , victoria and eastern south australia . in the act , the striped skink occupies warmer areas to the north and east of the territory .
the striped skink is quite common in the region , although not often seen .
not common in urban areas , although relatively undisturbed parts of nature reserve may provide suitable habitat for the species .
the species prefers relatively undisturbed habitats or areas of low grazing pressure . human activities will tend to deter the lizards from otherwise appropriate habitat areas .
the female striped skink lays an average of six eggs , with larger skinks usually laying more eggs . eggs are laid in late winter or spring and these hatch about 2 months later .
the striped skink is surface active , using rocks , logs and ground litter for shelter . it creates burrows under rocks , which is uses for hibernation and nesting . it is diurnal .
the striped skink feeds mostly on arthropods , although young lizards are sometimes eaten .
the species has been recorded as being preyed upon by snakes and feral cats .
the striped skink is very shy , and it will disappear quickly into a hole or underneath shelter when humans approach . as such , it is uncommon to see the skinks .
bennett , r . 1997 . reptiles & frogs of the australian capital territory , national parks association of the act , woden . s , t
cogger , h . g . 1996 . reptiles and amphibians of australia , reed books australia , melbourne . s , t
swan , g . , shea , g . and sadlier , r . 2004 . a field guide to reptiles of new south wal es , second edition , reed new holland , sydney . s , t
it has a wide distribution , nationally found in all mainland states , in mostly dry open woodland , arid and coastal vegetation areas .
the largest specimens have been found in w . a at 125mm snout to vent length , but here , the largest this author has observed are about 100mm ( doesnt include tail ) .
this lizard will be found in areas outside the vine thickets although it will colonise paths . it prefers open areas that are warm and light . it can be seen early to mid morning sunning itself on rocks etc . until its body temperature rises to optimum , then it will remain out of the sun in the midday heat in summer .
it is quick to run off unless it thinks you can ' t see it and then it will remain completely still , waiting for you to walk on . it will hide in leaf litter or under rocks and logs for example and will utilise burrows for safety if the soil is soft .
individuals can be repeatedly seen in the same spots , and this species is believed to have a territory or home area which it seldom leaves .
they have the ability to vocalise , often uttering a squeak when hand captured . if frightened it may dive into available water and if this happens its respiration has the ability to slow accordingly .
little is known except that it is an egg - laying or oviparous skink .
primarily an insectivore with a wide flexible dietary range , its food can include grasshoppers beetles etc . it has been known to also eat other lizards and occasionally seeds . like all skinks it will stalk its food .
known predators include cats and the common death adde r - acanthophis antarcticus both of which exist on magnetic island , other reptiles and kookaburras , butcher birds etc would also be possibil ities .
couper , p . , covacevich , j . , janetzki , h . , mcdonald , keith . 2000 , lizards in ' wildlife of tropical far north queensland ' , editors ryan , m . and burwell , c . , queensland museum publication : 203 - 233 .
greer , a . e . 2004 . encyclopedia of australian reptiles . australian museum online urltoken version date : 23 november 2004 .
saylor , 1973 ( as # ) ; done and heatwole , 1977 ( as # ) ; storr , 1978 ; way , 1979 ; morley and morley , 1984 ; sadlier , wombey and braithwaite , 1985 ; shea , 1985 ; daniels , heatwole and oakes , 1987 ; henle , 1987 ; shea , weigel , harwood , floriani and hemsley , 1988 ; archer , twigg and fox , 1990 ; brown , 1991 ; twigg and fox , 1991 ; neindorf , 1994 ; annable , 1995a ; hadden and westbrooke , 1996 ; letnic and fox , 1997 ; horner and fisher , 1998 ; watharow , 1998a - b ; fearn , 2001 ; taylor and fox , 2001a - b . urltoken
oviparous ( egg laying ) . lay up to 6 eggs in a clutch .
brown in colour with a wide dark mid - ventral line running from the nape to the tail . this stripe is bordered by a narrow off white line . a narrow pale shoulder stripe is bordered by a dark streak . sides are brown with pale spots . grows to 110 mm from snout to vent .
omnnivore . primarily ants but occasionally spiders , grasshoppers , termites , beetles and flies . in addition , small amounts of vertebrate and plant material .
the department of environment and primary industry ( depi ) advisory list consists of non - statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within victoria .
the flora and fauna guarantee act 1988 ( ffg act ) lists threatened species in victoria . under the act , an action statement is produced for each listed species .
the environment protection and biodiversity conservation act 1999 ( epbc act ) is the australian government’s key piece of environmental legislation , listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities .
a range of teacher professional learning programs will be developed to accompany the biodiversity of the western volcanic plains online outreach . . .


the new zealand flatworm ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) is a large land flatworm native to new zealand .

it can vary from 5 mm in length when hatched to approximately 17 centimetres ( 6.7 in ) in mature adults .

the ventral surface of the flatworm is a pale buff colour while the dorsal surface is dark brown .

young flatworms vary in colour from white to pale orange and develop their adult colouration as they grow .

during the day , flatworms can be found resting on the surface of soil underneath objects in close contact with the ground .

they may also be found beneath the soil surface hunting for earthworms .

reproduction involves the production of egg capsules of about 8 mm in length .

the capsules are shiny , flexible and cherry red in colour at first and later darken to black after several days .

after an unknown incubation period , several pale , tiny flatworms hatch out of the brittle capsule .

one egg capsule is produced at a time with the bulge clearly visible in the dorsum of the adult worm .

new zealand flatworm

the new zealand flatworm was introduced into the uk in the 1960s and feeds on earthworms .
the ' new zealand flatworm ' , ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) extended and showing its speckled underside .
the new zealand flatworm has a widespread distribution and is relatively common in scotland and northern ireland .
the ' new zealand flatworm ' , ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) , as collected within a plastic jar .
the ' new zealand flatworm ' , ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) , as typically found , under plastic sheeting .
the dispersal of the new zealand flatworm is mainly dependent upon movement of contaminated soil probably with containerised plants .
dendy a , 1894 . notes on new zealand land planarians . part 1 . transactions of the new zealand institute , 27 : 177 - 189 .
barker , g . m . 1989 . flatworm predation of terrestrial molluscs in new zealand and a brief review of previous records . new zealand entomologist 12 : 75 - 79 . [ links ]
close - up of a ' new zealand flatworm ' , ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) extended and showing its speckled underside .
close - up of a ' new zealand flatworm ' ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) , as collected within a plastic jar .
once established there are no known ways of eradicating the new zealand flatworm hence it is very important to stop its spread .
step 2 – explore your local outdoor space and look for new zealand flatworms .
trees ( new zealand ) hebes and their hybrids & cultivars ( photos ) .
boag b . ( 2000 ) the impact of the new zealand flatworm on earthworms and moles in agricultural land in western scotland .
trees & shrubs ( new zealand native ) botanical names a to f with photo .
trees & shrubs ( new zealand native ) botanical names g to l with photo .
trees & shrubs ( new zealand native ) botanical names m to q with photo .
trees & shrubs ( new zealand native ) botanical names r to z with photo .
you can also use the sightings form to submit a photo of the new zealand flatworm and its location without entering full survey data .
the new zealand flatworm eats native earthworms - which are a vital part of healthy soil - but also has a slime that can cause skin rashes .
no research has or is being specifically undertaken to quantify the deleterious impact the new zealand flatworm might have on vegetation and crop yield but anecdotal evidence from farmers has suggested that there has been an increase in flooding , the establishment of rushes and lower crop yields in areas that are infested with the new zealand flatworm .
there is evidence in scotland the new zealand flatworm spread form botanic gardens to nurseries and garden centres then to domestic gardens and only more recently to agricultural land .
boag , b . & g . w . yeates ( 2001 ) the potential impact of the new zealand flatworm , a predator of earthworms in western europe .
note : your results are important to us even if you didn ' t find any new zealand flatworms .
christensen om ; mather jg , 1998 . the ' new zealand flatworm ' , artioposthia triangulata , in europe : the faroese situation . pedobiologia [ oecd workshop on terrestrial flatworms , new zealand , 1998 . ] , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 532 - 540 .
the new zealand flatworm is a flat , ribbon - like organism , and has a dark purple - brown upper surface with pale margins and a creamy pale underside .
boag b ; neilson r , 2006 . impact of new zealand flatworm on agriculture and wildlife in scotland . proceedings crop protection in northern britain , 51 - 55 .
boag b . , h . d . jones , r . neilson ( 1997 ) the spread of the new zealand flatworm ( artioposthia triangulata ) within great britain .
while it is hard to control new zealand flatworm once present , learning more about their distribution can help target initiatives to prevent further introductions via gardens , soil movement etc .
is a free - living terrestrial flatworm . native to new zealand , it was found outside its natural habitat in belfast , northern ireland in 1963 ( ministry of agriculture ,
murchie ak ; moore jp , 1998 . hot - water treatment to prevent transference of the ' new zealand flatworm ' , artioposthia triangulata . pedobiologia , 42 : 572 .
containerised plants collected for edinburgh botanic gardens from new zealand and possibly initially taken to their benmore garden site near dunoon could be the initial source of infestation . however commercial traffic in containerised plants exported from new zealand from infested nurseries is possible e . g . rhododendrons from a garden centre on the banks penninsula , south island new zealand .
new zealand flatworms attack earthworms by wrapping their bodies around them and secreting digestive mucus to dissolve them before consuming them .
) . perhaps of particular risk is tasmania , which would be climatically similar to the south island of new zealand .
the new zealand flatworm arrived on british soil over half a century ago but researchers have struggled to survey the species as they are typically found in gardens . although new zealand flatworms eat earthworms , it is not known what influence this has on earthworm numbers or on other animals that consume earthworms like moles .
a new national open air laboratories ( opal ) survey launches this month to help find out how far the new zealand flatworm has spread and how big an influence it is having on the environment . the new zealand flatworm survey is the latest addition to the range of citizen science activities offered by opal , which is led by imperial college london and run by a range of organisations including universities , wildlife groups , and museums .
boag b ; yeates gw , 2001 . the potential impact of the new zealand flatworm , a predator of earthworms , in western europe . ecological applications , 11 : 1276 - 1286 .
murchie ak , 2008 . the problem of the ' new zealand flatworm ' : lessons for managing invasive alien species . proceedings crop protection in northern britain , 2008 : 51 - 56 .
boag b ; yeates gw ; johns pm , 1998 . limitations to the distribution and spread of terrestrial flatworms with special reference to the new zealand flatworm ( artioposthia triangulata ) . pedobiologia [ oecd workshop on terrestrial flatworms , new zealand , 1998 . ] , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 495 - 503 .
moore jp ; dynes c ; murchie ak , 1998 . status and public perception of the ' new zealand flatworm ' , artioposthia triangulata ( dendy ) , in northern ireland . pedobiologia [ oecd workshop on terrestrial flatworms , new zealand , 1998 . ] , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 563 - 571 .
populations of new zealand and australian flatworms are already established in the uk and there are at least 18 flatworms that have been introduced in europe , including the new guinea flatworm , listed as one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world .
people with senstitive skin have reported a reaction when they have come in contact with the mucus on the surface of the new zealand flatworm and for this reason it is suggested that gloves be worn .
accidental introduction ( blackshaw and stewart , 1992 ) . first confirmed record of this species outside of its native range in new zealand
despite the initial hysteria over new zealand flatworms , ken thompson says we needn’t panic over this slimy kiwi critter and an earthworm shortage .
there are several native species and some non - native species of flatworm in the uk . the non - native australian and new zealand flatworms are two species that have become established . they feed on earthworms .
annie robinson , an opal community scientist also from the university of aberdeen added : “every record submitted is invaluable and will help inform the development of our response to and research of the new zealand flatworm . people can go to the opal website and access identification , survey resources and submit pictures of the new zealand flatworm . together we can learn a lot about where this species is and what it’s up to ! ”
haria ah , 1995 . hydrological and environmental impact of earthworm depletion by the new zealand flatworm ( artioposthia triangulata ) . journal of hydrology ( amsterdam ) , 171 ( 1 / 2 ) : 1 - 3 .
hogan rn ; dunne r , 1996 . the distribution of the new zealand flatworm artioposthia triangulata ( dendy ) in the republic of ireland . irish naturalists ' journal , 25 ( 6 ) : 210 - 212 .
, d . sc . , f . l . s . , professor of biology in the canterbury college , university of new zealand .
boag b ; neilson r ; palmer lf ; jones hd , 1994 . a further record of the new zealand flatworm artioposthia triangulata ( dendy ) in england . plant pathology , 43 ( 1 ) : 220 - 222 .
cannon rjc ; baker rha ; taylor mc ; moore jp , 1999 . a review of the status of the new zealand flatworm in the uk . annals of applied biology , 135 ( 3 ) : 597 - 614 .
christensen , o . m . & j . g . mather . 2001 . long - term study of growth in the new zealand flatworm arthurdendyus triangulatus under laboratory conditions . pedobiologia 45 : 535 - 549 . [ links ]
baird j ; murchie ak ; fairweather i , 2000 . hatch of new zealand flatworm egg capsules at different temperatures . in : proceedings of environ 2000 , biology and environment : proceedings of the royal irish academy 100b . 138 .
dynes c ; fleming cc ; murchie ak , 2001 . genetic variation in native and introduced populations of the ' new zealand flatworm ' , arthurdendyus triangulatus . annals of applied biology , 139 ( 2 ) : 165 - 174 .
stockdill smj , 1982 . effects of introduced earthworms on the productivity of new zealand pastures . pedobiologia , 24 ( 1 ) : 29 - 35 .
dr brian boag , one of the uks new zealand flatworm experts , based at the james hutton institute in dundee , said : “avid gardeners will know whether they have new zealand flatworms on their premise or not , but this understanding is not passed on . therefore , we would love to learn from people to get a clear picture of where these creatures are present and where not . ”
boag b , 2000 . the impact of the new zealand flatworm on earthworms and moles in agricultural land in western scotland . aspects of applied biology [ farming systems for the new millenium , 18 - 20 december 2000 , churchill college , cambridge , uk . ] , no . 62 : 79 - 84 .
scottish executive rural affairs department , 2000 . biological and ecological studies of the new zealand flatworm , arthurdendyus triangulatus : towards a comprehensive risk assessment for the uk . scottish executive rural affairs department , flexible fund project no . csl / 002 / 96 . biological and ecological studies of the new zealand flatworm , arthurdendyus triangulatus : towards a comprehensive risk assessment for the uk . scottish executive rural affairs department , flexible fund project no . csl / 002 / 96 . 125 pp .
it originated from new zealand where it is associated with native woodland in the canterbury area but also found throughout the south island in nurseries and garden centres .
boag b ; jones hd ; neilson r ; santoro g , 1999 . spatial distribution and relationship between the new zealand flatworm arthurdendyus triangulata and earthworms in a grass field in scotland . pedobiologia , 43 ( 4 ) : 340 - 344 .
jones , h . d . , g . santoro , b . boag & r . neilson ( 2001 ) the diversity of earthworms in 200 scottish fields and the possible effect of new zealand flatworm ( arthudendyus triangulatus ) on earthworm populations .
the australian flatworm is orange or pinkish orange and reaches 2 - 8cm in length . it was first detected in south west england in the 1960s and since then has become more widespread in southern england and wales . this species does not seem to have had such a big impact as the new zealand flatworm on earthworm populations .
the large anecic earthworm species , lumbricus terrestris and aporrectodea longa which aid drainage and are a source of food for animals and birds , are affected by the new zealand flatworm . additionally a survey of 59 fields in western scotland found that where the flatworm had been established its presence was strongly associated with the eradication of moles .
gibson ph ; cosens dj , 2004 . the predation of slugs by the new zealand flatworm , arthurdendyus triangulatus ( dendy ) ( terricola : geoplanidae ) . british journal of entomology and natural history , 17 ( 1 ) : 35 - 38 .
the only known invertebrate predator are ground beetles but their numbers are probably too small to have an impact on new zealand flatworm populations . ducks and geese are known to feed on them and there are records of robins , blackbirds and ferrets consuming them .
those of you who live in warmer parts of the country may not have new zealand flatworms , but you may have an australian relative , which turned up in the isles of scilly and south - west england in the eighties . it’s smaller than the new zealand variety , orange - brown in colour , and also eats earthworms .
once established there are no known ways of eradicating the new zealand flatworm hence it is very important to stop its spread . initially garden centres and nurseries were probably mainly responsible for the distributing flatworms but now it could be neighbours , relatives and friends exchanging potted plants . gardeners should inspect any containerised plants and if they have the flatworm try to only give away cuttings , seed or bare rooted plants replanted in a known flatworm free medium .
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the new zealand flatworm continues to spread in scotland but its detrimental impact on the environment and of below and above ground biodiversity is unknown . at present there is no systematic monitoring or research being undertaken to know what the situation or how it might be controlled .
the new zealand flatworm reproduces by producing an egg capsule ( which on average contains 6 - 7 small creamy coloured hatchlings ) and is whitecherry red and soft when expelled . this hardens and becomes shiny and black and probably more resistant than the adults to dessication .
the new zealand flatworm requires cool damp conditions to survive , it cannot tolerate temperatures below zero or above c . 20 c which is probably one of the reasons why they have becoming established in agricultural land in ireland , north and western scotland plus the faroe islands .
boag b ; deeks l ; orr a ; neilson r , 2005 . a spatio - temporal analysis of a new zealand flatworm ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) population in western scotland . annals of applied biology , 147 ( 1 ) : 81 - 88 . urltoken ; = aab
gibson ph ; cosens d ; buchanan k , 1997 . a chance field observation and pilot laboratory studies of predation of the new zealand flatworm by the larvae and adults of carabid and staphylinid beetles . annals of applied biology , 130 ( 3 ) : 581 - 585 .
haria ah ; mcgrath sp ; moore jp ; bell jp ; blackshaw rp , 1998 . impact of the new zealand flatworm ( artioposthia triangulata ) on soil structure and hydrology in the uk . science of the total environment , 215 ( 3 ) : 259 - 265 .
amazingly , new zealand flatworms can survive for over a year by shrinking in size to as little as 10 % of their full - grown body mass until they find another earthworm .
murchie ak ; gordon aw , 2013 . the impact of new zealand flatworms arthurdendyus triangulatus on earthworm populations in the field . biological invasions , 15 ( 3 ) : 569 - 586 .
new zealand flatworms are usually found under pieces of wood , stone or polythene or lying on bare earth often curled up like a swiss roll . they leave slime circles where they’ve been resting .
blackshaw rp , 1996 . control options for the new zealand flatworm . in : brighton crop protection conference : pests & diseases - 1996 : volume 3 : proceedings of an international conference , brighton , uk , 18 - 21 november 1996 . farnham , uk : british crop protection council , 1089 - 1094 .
johns pm ; boag b ; yeates gw , 1998 . observations on the geographic distribution of flatworms ( turbellaria : rhynchodemidae , bipaliidae , geoplanidae ) in new zealand . pedobiologia , 42 : 469 - 476 .
taking an estimate that earthworms contribute 20 % towards grass yield and that a . triangulatus predation reduces earthworm biomass by 20 % , the effect of a . triangulatus colonisation could be a 4 % reduction in grass yield . boag and neilson ( 2006 ) calculated that the new zealand flatworm could conservatively cost scottish farmers c . £17m .
ducey , p . k . & s . noce . 1998 . succesful invasion of new york state by the terrestrial flatworm , bipalium adventitium . northeastern naturalist 5 ( 3 ) : 199 - 206 . [ links ]
an invasive flatworm from brazil that poses a threat to soil health and wildlife has made its way to mainland britain .
gardeners are invited to report sightings of new zealand flatworms ( date , number of flatworms and postcode location ) during the summer months . in the winter months live samples of flatworm can also be posted to the institute in a sealed plastic container ( for example an old - style photo film canister ) along with the same reporting information .
yeates gw ; boag b ; johns pm , 1998 . field and laboratory observations on terrestrial planarians from modified habitats in new zealand . pedobiologia , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 554 - 562 ; 30 ref .
the new zealand flatworm reaches 20cm ( 8in ) in length and is dark brown with a paler margin . it became established in britain during the 1960s and at first it was thought to be of no consequence . it was only when it had become widely distributed , that it was realised that it was feeding exclusively on earthworms , in some places reducing earthworm populations to a very low level . this has undesirable effects on soil structure and also denies earthworms as a food resource for those native animals that feed on them . this flatworm originates from new zealand and is now thriving , particularly in the wetter parts of britain , it is most common in scotland , northern england and northern ireland .
we need your help to find out how far this flatworm has spread and what influence it is having on the environment .
enhancing earthworm populations through provision of soil organic matter ( e . g . farmyard manure ) may mitigate against flatworm predation .
yeates , g . w . ; b . boag & p . m . johns . 1998 . field and laboratory observations on terrestrial planarians from modified habitats in new zealand . pedobiologia 42 : 554 - 562 . [ links ]
a survey of the new zealand flatworm in scotland showed that between 1965 and 1980 it was mainly recorded from garden centres and nurseries around glasgow and edinburgh . however by the 1990s it was mainly found in domestic gardens throughout scotland including some of the scottish islands with some records from farmland . a similar picture occurred in northern ireland but there surveys of farmland in 1991 and 19981999 found 3 % and 65 % respectively of farms infested . although the first record of the flatworm in england was in 1965 it was not until 1992 that it was again found and the rate of spread in england has been much slower than in scotland or northern ireland . the new zealand flatworm has also been recorded from the faroe islands in 1992 but never yet from continental europe or from any other part of the world even though climatic conditions would probably allow its establishment .
though most leeches live in fresh or saltwater environments new zealand has three known native species of terrestrial leeches that are adapted to live out of the water . they feed on the blood of seabirds , particularly penguins and shearwaters . to obtain blood the leeches after dark nestles into the webbing on the feet of ground - nesting birds . all new zealand’s terrestrial species are now endangered and confined to rat - free offshore islands except one specimen found under a log in fiordland .
all flatworms are predatory with some species feeding on slugs , others feed on earthworms . australian and new zealand flatworms are two species that have become established in the uk that feed on earthworms , in some areas earthworm populations have been affected .
alford dv , 1998 . potential problems posed by non - indigenous terrestrial flatworms in the united kingdom . pedobiologia [ oecd workshop on terrestrial flatworms , new zealand , 1998 . ] , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 574 - 578 .
a . triangulatus could be confused with other flatworm species but is considerably larger that the native microplana flatworms in ireland and gb . the ‘australian flatworm’ , australoplana sanguinea is similar in body shape but is orange . terrestrial leeches also have a cursory similarity but are segmented .
the new zealand flatworm requires damp , cool conditions to survive i . e . it cannot live in dry soils or where the temperature is below 0 or above c . 20 degrees celcius . its distribution in gb is probably limited to areas which have earthworms ( soils with ph levels above 4 ) . the new zealand flatworm is nocturnal and probably feeds on the earthworm species which come to the soil surface at night to feed . during the day it takes refuge under stones , pieces of wood and piece of polythene . it itself does not seem to have the ability to make burrows but when conditions are unfavourable it relies on earthworm tunnels , dead root channels or cracks in the soil surface to access the deeper soil horizons where it is cool and damp .
the new zealand flatworm ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) was first recorded form scotland in 1965 and is now widely distributed throughout scotland ( boag et al . , 1994 ) . all major islands are infested , for example , arran , skye . harris and lewis , coll , orkney , shetland and even fair isle . it is an obligate predator of our native earthworms and has been shown to have the ability to decrease earthworm populations to below detectable levels in northern ireland ( blackshaw , 1990 ) . in new zealand it is confined to the south island but there are probably over 100 other species of flatworms in new zealand many of which a ) have not been described , b ) belong to the genus arthurdendyus , c ) are in the north island and better equipped to withstand higher temperatures and therefore , if introduced into the british isles , could become a greater problem than a . triangulatus .
murchie ak ; mac an tsaoir s , 2006 . high densities of ' new zealand flatworms ' , arthurdendyus triangulatus ( dendy ) , in experimental orchard plots in northern ireland and implications for thatch formation . tearmann , no . 5 : 23 - 28 .
“without any screening in place we’re playing a game of russian roulette with our countryside and native wildlife . the current guidance is utterly inadequate and without rigorous screening it’s not surprising that new invasive plants – and their alarming hitchhikers like the obama flatworm – are arriving . ”
while spreading the contents of my compost heap on the garden recently , i unearthed 10 new zealand flatworms , all of them now safely squashed . this worm has been in the garden for many years , but that’s the largest number i’ve come across at one time .
new zealand flatworms are spread by moving topsoil or rooted plants between places , which allows this species to move from garden to garden . current understanding of where all in the uk they exist is very limited , but knowing their distribution could help target initiatives to prevent further introductions .
jones hd ; boag b , 1996 . the distribution of new zealand and australian terrestrial flatworms ( platyhelminthes : turbellaria : tricladida : terricola ) in the british isles - the scottish survey and megalab worms . journal of natural history , 30 ( 7 ) : 955 - 975 .
fraser pm ; boag b , 1998 . the distribution of lumbricid earthworm communities in relation to flatworms : a comparison between new zealand and europe . in : pedobiologia , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) [ ed . by yeates , g . w . ] . 542 - 553 .
jones hd ; santoro g ; boag b ; neilson r , 2001 . the diversity of earthworms in 200 scottish fields and the possible effect of new zealand land flatworms ( arthurdendyus triangulatus ) on earthworm populations . annals of applied biology , 139 ( 1 ) : 75 - 92 .
turbellaria include the only free - living platyhelminthes , they are mainly aquatic , but there are a few terrestrial species inhabiting moist environments . a small number of terrestrial species have become pests where they have been unintentionally introduced in pot plants ( see the new zealand flatworm below ) . there are over 4000 species living on rock and sediments on water and in moist habitats on land , and they range in size from 1 mm - 50 cm .
boag b ; evans ka ; yeates gw ; johns pm ; neilson r , 1995 . assessment of the global potential distribution of the predatory land planarian artioposthia triangulata ( dendy ) ( tricladida , terricola ) from ecoclimatic data . new zealand journal of zoology , 22 : 311 - 318 .
new zealand flatworms are quite remarkable creatures that eat earthworms by wrapping their bodies around them and secreting digestive mucus to dissolve and consume them . they can survive for over one year by shrinking in size to as little as 10 % of their full - grown body mass until they find another earthworm .
baird j ; fairweather i ; murchie ak , 2005 . long - term effects of prey - availability , partnering and temperature on overall egg capsule output of ' new zealand flatworms ' , arthurdendyus triangulatus . annals of applied biology , 146 ( 3 ) : 289 - 301 . urltoken ; = aab
blackshaw rp , 1995 . changes in populations of the predatory flatworm artioposthia triangulata and its earthworm prey in grassland . acta zoologica fennica , 196 : 107 - 110 .
a . triangulatus is mainly detected by visual inspection under plant pots , stones , wood , plastic sheeting and other debris on the soil surface ( eppo , 2001 ) . the flatworm may also be detected by use of the expulsion techniques ( e . g . formalin or mustard ) used to assess earthworm populations ( gunn , 1992 ; murchie et al . , 2003 ) . shelter traps may be placed on the soil surface , these can be pieces of wood , tiles or plastic bags filled with soil . a sampling strategy to quantify the detection of the new zealand flatworm was published by boag et al . ( 2010 ) .
is present here in new zealand . it has been found in taupo and auckland and its habitat is slow streams , irrigation ditches , drainage ditches . it is a small flat leech with a body length of 10–25 mm and can be easily recognized by its five lines of distinct conical black–tipped papillae of the dorsum .
researchers are eager to know of new sightings . should you discover a possible flatworm in your garden , please take a digital photograph and email it to mike . lole @ adas . co . uk . when taking photos , place an object such as a pencil , or a key , alongside the creature to provide scale .
this is where scientists at aberdeen university and the james hutton institute , a leading research centre on the new zealand flatworm , would like the public’s help . if you find one , in your garden or elsewhere , please take a photo and submit this along with its location to opal or get involved in a short survey of your outdoor space . this will give the team an idea of what influence these flatworms may have on earthworms across the uk , and other animals that consume earthworms like moles .
new zealand has a native blood sucking leech in the genus : richardsonianus with the scientific name of richardsonianus mauianus . it is commonly called the tiger leech and is easily recognised by its longitudinal stripes . it is a rare leech and is found in some slow - flowing weedy streams , ponds and lakes in northern new zealand and south to the waikato . they are common in the oruarangi creek in mangere and in lake puketirini , huntly . they will latch on to the bare legs of humans wading in their habitats . when removed they leave a distinctive triangular bite mark on the skin . it takes the leech about nine months to digest its food before it needs another meal .
boag b ; jones hd ; evans ka ; neilson r ; yeates gw ; johns pm , 1998 . the application of gis techniques to estimate the establishment and potential spread of artioposthia triangulata in scotland . pedobiologia [ oecd workshop on terrestrial flatworms , new zealand , 1998 . ] , 42 ( 5 / 6 ) : 504 - 510 .
wrona , f . j . & h koopowitz . 1998 . behavior of the rhabdocoel flatworm mesostoma ehrenbergii in prey capture and feeding . hydrobiologia 383 : 35 - 40 . [ links ]
their egg capsules look like blackcurrants , though smaller , and contain about 7 young flatworms , so it’s important to spot these and not move them to new locations .
the new zealand flatworm was first introduced to the uk in the 1960s , although it has never become as great a problem as was originally feared . it’s purple - brown on top , and flat and pointed at both ends . when resting it coils up , is covered in mucus , and is about 1cm wide by 6cm long , although when extended it can be up to 30cm long . it lives on earthworms , covering them in digestive juices to dissolve them before sucking them up . the larvae of ground beetles prey on flatworms .
little is known about the natural enemies of a . triangulatus in new zealand , although they are presumed to be ground beetles and other flatworms . planarivora insignis ( diptera : keroplatidae ) is a parasitoid of terrestrial flatworms in tasmania ( hickman , 1965 ) . it is possible that a similar species may exist in the native habitat of a . triangulatus .
boag b ; jones hd ; neilson r , 2006 . proceedings of the 10th international symposium on flatworm biology , innsbruck , austria , july 2006 . innsbruck , austria : the james hutton institute .
members of the public who are keen to embark on some ‘citizen science’ to see if there is any sign of the new zealand flatworm in their garden , are advised that the species is flat , dark purple - brown on top and creamy pale underneath and along the sides . they are usually 5 - 15 cm long and are pointed at both ends and covered in sticky mucus . they are found under pieces of wood , stone or polythene or lying on bare earth often curled up like a swiss roll and they leave slime circles where they’ve been resting .
a . triangulatus was first found outside of new zealand in belfast , northern ireland , in 1963 . exactly how this species came to be in belfast is unknown but it is thought to have been carried inadvertently with ornamental plants such as daffodils , roses or rhododendrons ( willis and edwards , 1977 ; blackshaw and stewart , 1992 ) . a similar situation is likely to have happened in scotland . the first record was from the royal botanic gardens in edinburgh , and many flatworm records have been associated with botanic gardens , garden centres and nurseries ( boag and yeates , 2001 ) . as an example , 22 live flatworms ( though not a . triangulatus ) were found within a dicksonia antarctica ( tree fern ) from australia ( parker et al . , 2005 ) . the spread of a . triangulatus to the relatively isolated faroe islands , was thought to have occurred via goods from scotland , although direct transmission from new zealand cannot be excluded ( mather and christensen , 1992 ) .
zaborski , e . r . 2002 . observations on feeding behavior by the terrestrial flatworm bipalium adventitium ( platyhelminthes , tricladida , terricola ) from illinois . american midland naturalist 148 : 401 - 408 . [ links ]
the flatworm is ribbon - flat , slimy , and pointed at both ends , growing up to 15cm long and 1cm wide , with purplish - brown on top with buff - coloured edge and a pale buff underside .
the james hutton research institute is the result of the merger in april 2011 of mluri and scri . this merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food , land use , and climate change .
sluys r ; kawakatsu m ; riutort m ; baguñà j , 2009 . a new higher classification of planarian flatworms ( platyhelminthes , tricladida ) . journal of natural history , 43 : 1763 - 1777 .
rae rg ; robertson j ; wilson mj , 2005 . susceptibility of indigenous uk earthworms and an invasive pest flatworm to the slug parasitic nematode phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita . biocontrol science and technology , 15 ( 6 ) : 623 - 626 . urltoken
koopowitz , h . ; d . silver & g . rose . 1976 . primitive nervous systems . control and recovery of feeding behavior in the plolyclad flatworm , notoplana acticola . biological bulletin 150 : 411 - 425 . [ links ]
research in scotland has shown that while all native earthworms are eaten by the new zealand flatworm the large anecic species such as lumbricus terrestris are particularly at risk since they feed on the soil surface at night ( jones et al . , 2001 ) . in ireland a long term experiment by murchie and gordon ( 2012 ) have shown l . terrestris numbers reduced by 75 % and earthworm biomass down by 20 % in infested land . earthworms , particularly the anecic species have large , vertical burrows which open to the soil surface and therefore help soil drainage . research has shown that when earthworms are removed then drainage is impeded ( haria et al . , 1998 ) .
once in a garden there is nothing effective that can be done to reduce flatworm numbers . destroying any found underneath pots or stones will remove a few , but this is likely to be only a small proportion of the population in a garden
, 1964 ) . the species is harmful because it is a predator of earthworms and a decline in earthworms could reduce soil fertility and earthworm - feeding wildlife . the flatworm is found in ireland , great britain and the faroe islands . although capable of active movement the flatworm has been spread mainly by the trade in containerised plants . its tendency to shelter under debris on the soil surface and its sticky body , have facilitated inadvertent carriage on plant containers , agricultural equipment and soil . there have been several scientific reviews of the biology of
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a . triangulatus feeds on lumbricid earthworms in the invaded areas . little is known about its natural prey in new zealand , although it is assumed to be megascolecid earthworms ( johns et al . , 1998 ) . the matter is complicated because much of new zealand gardens and pasture have been colonised by european earthworm species ( stockdill , 1982 ) . in laboratory tests , where a . triangulatus was presented with earthworm prey in petri dishes , there was little evidence of direct preference for individual earthworm species ( stewart , 1993 ) . differential impacts on earthworm species observed in field sampling are likely due to earthworm niche characteristics , such as burrow width , which increase vulnerability to predation ( blackshaw and stewart , 1992 ; lillico et al . , 1996 ) . anecic earthworms , which come to the soil surface , are particularly at risk ( jones et al . , 2001 ) . when no earthworms are available , a . triangulatus may occasionally feed on slugs ( gibson and cosens , 2004 ) .
it was possibly introduced into gb in the 1950s probably is soil associated with plants brought to britain . in scotland it was first recorded from edinburgh botanic garden . it is likely it was then spread in soil around the roots of containerised plants to nurseries , and garden centres then into domestic gardens . the importance of garden centres and nurseries has probably diminished and most of the spread to domestic gardens is from neighbours , relatives and friends exchanging plants . the spread to farmland is occurring mainly in the west of scotland and has occurred in northern ireland where over 70 % of farms are infested . the spread between fields and farms may be associated with the movement of hay and silage bales . field observations of the new zealand flatworm in the west of scotland have shown it can travel at 1 metreday .
mcgee c ; wisdom gb ; fairweather i ; blackshaw rp ; mcilroy j ; walker b , 1998 . characterization of the proteins present in the mucus of the flatworm artioposthia triangulata ( dendy ) . comparative biochemistry and physiology b - biochemistry & molecular biology , 119 : 293 - 298 .
ducey , p . k . ; m . messere ; k . lapoint & s . noce . 1999 . lumbricid prey and potential hepetofaunal predators of the invading terrestrial flatworm bipalium adventitium ( turbellaria : tricladida : terricola ) . american midland naturalist 141 : 305 - 314 . [ links ]
jones hd ; gerard bm , 1999 . a new genus and species of terrestrial planarian ( platyhelminthes ; tricladida ; terricola ) from scotland , and an emendation of the genus artioposthia . journal of natural history , 33 ( 3 ) : 387 - 394 .
the flatworm crept with the anterior extremity raised and waving slightly from side to side showing sensory behavior . in some observations on the process , the isopod , when exploring the environment , collided with the anterior or median regions of the body of the flatworm ( figs 2 , 6 - 7 and 10 ) , and was then very quickly captured ( see below ) . in other observations , the isopod moved close to the anterior extremity or the median region of the body of the flatworm , touching it softly ( figs 14 - 16 ) , then being quickly captured . in another observation , the isopod moved to the side of the planarian , apparently touching it slightly ( figs 21 and 22 ) . muscular wave - movements were observed on the margin of planarian body , and when the isopod was at the level of the posterior third of the planarian body , it was captured .
carbayo , f . & a . m . leal - zanchet . 2003 . two new genera of geoplanid land planarians ( platyhelminthes : tricladida : terricola ) of brazil in the light of cephalic specialisations . invertebrate systematics 17 : 449 - 468 . [ links ]
as highlighted by alford ( 1998 ) , one of the main economic effects of flatworm infestation could be limitations on trade . this applies to international trade and also to local trade in the sense that a garden centre , nursery or topsoil distributor may be held liable for distributing a harmful invasive species .
a 4 . 5cm obama flatworm ( obama nungara ) – not linked to the us president but named after the brazilian tupi words for leaf ( oba ) and animal ( ma ) – was discovered this summer crawling out of a heuchera plant imported from the netherlands at a garden centre in oxfordshire .
the new zealand is hermaphrodite and produces an egg capsule ( usually containing 6 - 7 young ) probably every 7 - 10 days in late spring and summer . the egg capsule ( usually 10 - 15 % of the adult flatworms weight ) can be white to cherry red and is extruded either through the reproductive opening on the ventral surface or through a slit opening up on the dorsal surface . this immediately heals up and leaves a small white scar . the young hatchlings initially are a creamy white but soon turn to the same colour as the adults .
many of our native mammals ( badgers , shrews , hedgehogs , moles etc . ) and birds rely on earthworms as their major source of food for at least some part of the year but there has been no investigation to quantify the deleterious impact the new zealand flatworm has on their populations . however , observations in an area between dunoon and loch eck ( where 55 of 59 fields were found to be infested with flatworms ) show that no moles can now be found even though they had been a problem there after world war ii . similarly in glen massan flatworms were found in seven fields none of which had moles while in another seven fields there were moles but no flatworms . since about 70 % of grass fields without flatworms in western scotland have moles it would seem that in the area south of loch eck flatworms have been responsible for the disappearance of moles ( boag , 2000 ) .
the worm , which has a broad , flattened , leaf - shaped body and can grow up to 7cm long , was first found in europe on guernsey in 2008 but has spread to france , italy and spain . it was only described as a new species last year .
when capture was achieved using the anterior portion of the body , after immobilizing the prey , the flatworm turned the ventral surface to the ground and glided over the prey ( fig . 19 ) , until the prey was at the level of the mouth , which is located on ventral surface approximately at the end of the median third of the body . when capture occurred with the posterior extremity , after immobilizing the prey , the flatworm , bending the body posteriorly , gradually moved the anterior extremity towards the prey , freeing the posterior end to regain contact with the ground ( figs 26 - 28 ) . afterwards , the flatworm crept over the prey ( fig . 29 ) to bring it into contact with its mouth . the time for bringing the prey to the mouth ranged from 10 s to 2 min 42 s ( 1 min 31 s ± 1 min 6 s , mean ± s . d . , n = 5 ) , with median of 2min3s .
new zealand flatworms are usually found during the day , often curled up like a swiss roll , under pieces of wood , stone or polythene lying on bare earth . they are relatively flat compared with earthworms , are pointed at both ends and covered with a sticky mucus . they can vary in colour but usually have a dark brown upper surface with a lighter beige speckled border which extends to cover the ventral surface . flatworms can also vary greatly in shape from long and narrow ( up to 15 cm ) to short and relatively fat . they produce egg capsules which look like small , shiny blackcurrants .
ducey , p . k . ; m . mccormick & e . davidson . 2007 . natural history observations on bipalium cf . vagum jones and sterrer ( platyhelminthes : tricladida ) , a terrestrial broadhead planarian new to north america . southeastern naturalist 6 ( 3 ) : 449 - 460 . [ links ]
presumably my flatworms arrived the same way they got into the country — with contaminated plants . they have a tendency to hide under objects during the day and their sticky mucus means they can easily be transported stuck to the bottoms of things like plant pots and garden ornaments . they’ve also been found among the roots of containerised plants , inside plant pots , in manure heaps and stuck to the bottom of silage bales . they are also extremely fond , as i can testify , of compost heaps . genetic analysis shows clearly that our flatworms are not the result of a single oversight ; they have been introduced from new zealand on several occasions .
it is possible to inoculate depleted sites with earthworms ( van der werff et al . , 1998 ) , although this would only be justified if a . triangulatus were removed and would be dependent on the scale of their impact on the earthworm population . given time and removal of flatworm predation , it is expected that earthworms will naturally recolonise infested areas .
ohbayashi , t . ; i . okoshi ; h . sato & t . ono . 2005 . food habit of platydemus manokwari de beauchamp , 1962 ( tricladida : terricola : rhynchodemidae ) , known as predatory flatworm of land snails in the ogasawara ( bonin ) islands , japan . applied entomology and zoology 40 : 609 - 614 . [ links ]
other stresses such as climate change and changes in land use have increased the risk of invasive species establishing themselves and spreading . the discovery of ash dieback in england in 2012 highlighted the risk posed to the uk’s plants from new pests and diseases . imports were banned and an independent taskforce set up to assess the threats .
prey capture was achieved by quickly moving the anterior or posterior region onto the prey , immediately enveloping it ( figs 3 and 23 ) . during entrapment the ventral surface of the flatworm made initial contact with the dorsum or side of the prey , pressing it against the substratum or against the median region of the planarian body ( figs 8 and 17 ) . in order to hold the prey against its body , the flatworm bent the anterior or the posterior third of the body laterally , so that the ventral surface was perpendicular to the ground . another type of capture was performed with the anterior region ( ca . 1 / 5 of the body length ) rapidly encircling the prey , so that it was lifted from the ground ( fig . 11 ) .
new zealand flatworms are hermaphrodite with the reproductive opening on the ventral surface . the egg capsules , which can contain between one and fourteen young but usually six to seven , are often white or cherry red when laid . observed births are usually through a spontaneous caesarean opening on the back of the flatworms which immediately heals over . the egg capsules are laid in summer under refugia similar to those where flatworms are found during the day . hatching , it is estimated , takes place about one month later , the hatchlings being creamy white but soon turn to the colour of the adults . probably one egg capsule is laid every seven to 10 days and can weigh 10 - 15 % of the adult weight .
for those of you who have yet to see one of these critters , nz flatworms are flattened and coated in a sticky mucus . the main colour is dark purple - brown , with a speckled buff / pale yellow margin and lower surface . they spend a lot of their time curled into a spiral , but when fully extended they can be up to 20cm ( 8in ) long . they first turned up in the uk in 1963 , in a couple of gardens in belfast , but very quickly spread to scotland . they are still much more common in the north of the uk , which fits with their distribution in new zealand , where they are confined to the cooler and damper parts of the south island .
classical biological control using the flatworm - parasitic fly , planarivora insignis , has been suggested ( blackshaw and stewart , 1992 ; blackshaw , 1996 ; cannon et al . , 1999 ) . however , there has been little work on p . insignis aside from the paper by hickman ( 1965 ) , who described the species and its basic biology . during 1962 , hickman ( 1965 ) collected 118 geoplana tasmaniana , of which 33 ( 28 % ) were parasitised by p . insignis . a . k . murchie ( agri - food and biosciences institute , northern ireland , personal communication , 2009 ) revisited the same site in tasmania and collected 37 terrestrial flatworms of various species in august 2004 , but found no evidence of parasitism . l . winsor ( james cook university , australia , personal communication , 2009 ) commented that parasitism of flatworms by p . insignis was relatively rare . the other problem is that it is not known whether p . insignis would parasitise a . triangulatus and to what extent . clearly more research is required in this area and especially whether a . triangulatus has a similar parasitoid attacking it in new zealand .
present contribution to our knowledge of the land planarians of new zealand deals exclusively with a number of specimens collected during a month ' s stay at springburn , at the foot of mount somers , in november and the early part of december of last year ( 1894 ) . in the immediate vicinity of the thick bush - scrub of the alford forest the locality appeared a good hunting - ground for cryptozoic animals , and experience showed that this was indeed the case . the very luxuriance of the vegetation , however , with its unlimited hiding - places for cryptozoic animals , made the task of collection more difficult than it would have been in a clearer neighbourhood , where the animals are concentrated , as it were , in a comparatively few spots .