Scientists have for the first time identified the presence of several invasive flatworm species in France. The hammerhead flatworms have also been found in overseas French territories.

In a new paper, published this week in the journal PeerJ, scientists from the French National Museum of Natural History detailed five species of hammerhead flatworms belonging to the genera Bipalium and Diversibipalium. Some of the invasive worm species can grow to more than a foot in length.

Because hammerhead worms hunt and eat earthworms, they can potentially disrupt native biodiversity and ecological balance.

In addition to their presence in mainland France, researchers confirmed the worms' invasions of French territories in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Oceania.

One of the species, found on Mayotte, a French island off the African East Coast, is named "blue" due to its glittery turquoise appearance.

Though researchers spent time conducting their own field work, the new survey relies heavily on observations made by citizen scientists.

Genetic analysis of several specimens suggests they are clonal species and reproduce asexually, limiting their genetic diversity.

The authors of the new study were surprised that such larger invasive species could have colonized a European country for two decades without making their way into the scientific literature.

"Bipaliines, which have their origin in warm parts of Asia, are invasive species, now widespread worldwide," researchers wrote in their paper. "However, the scientific literature is very scarce about the widespread repartition of these species, and their invasion in European countries has not been studied."

Related Links
Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

How the waterwheel plant snaps
Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (SPX) May 22, 2018
The midrib of the leaf (which has been transformed into a snap trap) bends slightly downwards in a flash, the trap halves fold in, and the water flea can no longer escape - as part of an interdisciplinary team Anna Westermeier, Dr. Simon Poppinga and Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck from the Plant Biomechanics Group at the Botanic Garden of the University of Freiburg have discovered how this snapping mechanism, with which the carnivorous waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) catches its prey, works in detail. ... read more