Terrestrial Flatworms (Very Strange Creatures)

While moving an old sleeper we found two terrestrial flatworms, each about 55mm in length (just over 2 inches). These are not earthworms. Rather, they are very strange life forms. Unlike earthworms, their bodies are not segmented. Also they only have one hole with which to both ingest food and get rid of waste. These are the worms that can be cut in half either cross ways or length ways and both halves will regenerate and live on. (no I have not tried this)

My flatworms were identified as Artioposthia lucasiby Dr Leigh Winsor who said:

Alan's excellent photos are of Artioposthia lucasi, named after A.H.S. Lucas, a noted naturalist and schoolmaster, and among other things a sometime editor of the Victorian Naturalist. The species was first described from specimens collected from east Gippsland, and it mainly occurs in the central portion of the eastern Victorian highlands. It has also been found in the Lake St Clair region of Tasmania, and the description accords well with Allan's specimen from near Burnie on the northern coast of Tasmania that the ground colour in the Tasmanian specimens is yellowish, and the median dark line is not as developed as in specimens from Victoria. A nice record.

_{( All photos, videos, and text on this blog are by @mostly.nature )}

The photos were taken with a Canon 7D camera, a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro lens, and a Yongnuo Macro Ring Lite YN14EX Flash

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