The "New Guinea flatworm" Platydemus manokwari. This species is invasive in more than 15 territories in the Pacific, and has been detected recently in France. It is included in the “100 World’s Worst Invader Alien Species”.
If you have seen it, especially in Europe, please contact me.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.297
Did you have records of this species in other continents, like South America? Black terrestrial planarians with median longitudinal line are common in some urban or semi-natural habitats at Brasilia.
Interesting information! In Perú I have no found records about its presence.
Very interesting question. So far, abnd to my knowledge, it was not recorded for the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos.
Best regards,l
JP
we have something similar here in Italy, I'm going for sampling next week and I'll tell you more. No hopes to barcode it with Folmer's primers?
Thank you.
If it is really this species (Platydemus manokwari), COI sequences are available. See the paper for details about primers.
If it is another land planarian, the primers mentioned in our paper work well too.
@ Reuber Brandao;
The paper includes a map of worlwide mentions of Platydemus manokwari. So far, no mention in South America.
Yes, of course, there are other species which resemble this one. However, Platydemus manokwari has only two eyes, while most species have many eyes, which are almost invisible. That is an easy differential characteristic.
Thank you for all these answers.
I also received by email an interesting mention and photographs of the species in yet another territory, in Asia.
I have received several additional records of this species by email. I am still interested by records in various countries.
We may have this species in Florida. Specimens appear similar to the specimens I have seen in the Pacific Islands, but I cannot confirm the ID myself. Would you be willing to examine the specimens?
Extremely interesting indeed! Platydemus manokwari has not been recorded in America - yet.
Do you have photographs?
Please send them by email to [email protected]
Jean-Lou Justine , I´m pretty sure that I have some New Guinea flatworm (Platydemus manokwari) and hammerhead flatworms (Diversibipalium multilineatum) appearing in my bath (probably from the drains) in Azores Archipelago! Are you aware about some recent publications recording the occurrence of land planarian in Azores? As soon I have some photos I’ll provide you.
Dear Ana,
Please send photographs.
Also, please put specimens into molecular-grade ethanol. Do not put specimens in freezer.
Is Platydemus spreading rapidly, or is it simply that people are looking for it for the first time and it has actually been widespread for some time? Or perhaps some of both?
Still present here in Hawaii, but not nearly as abundant as it was in South Florida.
This is not a member of the Platyhelminthes. This is a leech (Phylum Annelida). You can see the transverse striation, typical of Annelida.
Ce n'est pas un Plathelminthe, c'est une sangsue. On voit bien les stries transversales, typiques des Annélides.