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Mollusc-eating Hammerhead Worm
Bipalium vagum
25.7337, -80.3729
Field Notes
Habitat:
Require a moist environment and are negatively phototacic (they instinctively avoid light). Their preferred habitat includes piles of humus, protected cracks and crevices, flowerpot bases, and the like. As mentioned, they can withstand brief periods of drought by encapsulating themselves with their mucus.
Notes:
First time ever seeing a terrestrial flatworm. It has been a very very rainy summer thus far here in south Florida. This morning, after more rain last night, I spotted three of these guys in my parent's backyard. The one pictured was on the wall, there was another on a window, and a third on the patio floor. All were about 2 inches long and with the same markings. These are introduced Asian species it seems. I am not entirely sure if the ID is correct between B. vagum vs. B. kewense, but after reading a few pages (see below) I was more confident about vagum.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/5416/
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/land_planarians.htm
The major difference, and an important one, is that vagum is a snail/slug eater (potentially garden beneficial) and kewense is an earthworm eater (a garden pest).
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