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Headless Hammer Head Worm (Part 2)

Bipalium kewense Moseley

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

This is a Hammerhead worm which has lost it's head. It was moving very normally and did not seem disoriented at all.
'Worms regrow their decapitated heads, along with the memories inside"
http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/10/4510580/planarian-worm-regrows-memori…

Notes:

Thanks Mark for helping with the ID!

Reference Links:

Worms regrow their decapitated heads, along with the memories inside | The Verge

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (12)
HemaShah
Thanks so much Mark. They regenerate,Feed by protruding their pharynx,and use "avoidance" as a means of staying safe. They have chemical receptors to detect prey.
Mark Ridgway
The 'hammerhead' species are probably introduced to the US from SE Asia. There are other amazing facts about these. Although they look slow moving, they detect prey with chemical 'radar' and quickly overpower it with brute force, a bit like a tiny boa constrictor. They will tackle prey 10 times their size. Check this fantastic spotting of a killer in action http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17617019
Namitha
This is really turning out to be a very interesting organism, reminds me of the hydra monster.
RiekoS
I know that amoebas do, but we don't see the heads like this one so clearly. It is definitely spooky...
staccyh
Amazing! Thanks for the info :)
HemaShah
This is turning spooky. Interesting as it is!!
Mark Ridgway
Definitely a flat worm. It wouldn't surprise if they kept going without a head for a while if it lost it. One amazing thing is they can be split lengthways or across and both parts can become new flatworms.
HemaShah
Stac,here is a link which shows that they regenerate a new head with a brain and do not loose data. http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/10/4510580/planarian-worm-regrows-memories-after-decapitation
staccyh
It does look like the top bit has been chopped off somehow!
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 14, 2013

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