Platydemus manokwari
Platydemus manokwari | |
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Head is on the right. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Platyhelminthes |
Order: | Tricladida |
Family: | Geoplanidae |
Genus: | Platydemus |
Species: | P. manokwari
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Binomial name | |
Platydemus manokwari |
Platydemus manokwari, also known as the New Guinea flatworm, is a species of large
Native to New Guinea, it has been accidentally introduced to the soil of many countries, including the United States.[3] It was also deliberately introduced into two Pacific islands in an attempt to control an invasion of the giant African land snail.[citation needed] It eats a variety of invertebrates including land snails, and has had a significant negative impact on the rare endemic land snail fauna of some Pacific islands.[4] It has become established in a wide variety of habitats.
General ecology
Description
It is relatively large, about 40–65 millimetres (1.6–2.6 inches) in length and about 4–7 millimetres (0.16–0.28 inches) wide. Its body, however, is quite flat, being less than 2 millimetres (0.08 inches) in thickness. Both ends of the animal are pointed, but the head end is more pointed than the tail end.[5] Near the tip of the head end are two eyes.[6] It is dark brown on the upper surface, with a lighter central line. The underside is pale grey.[5]
Natural habitat
P. manokwari is native to the island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. This species of large flatworm preys on land mollusks and has been categorized as one of the 100 worst invasive species.
The original habitat of P. manokwari is within tropical areas, but it has been found in almost all temperate regions of the world including in agricultural, coastland, and disturbed areas, as well as, natural forests, planted forests, riparian zones, scrub/shrublands, urban areas, and wetlands.[4] However, P. manokwari does not live in urban coastal areas, perhaps due to environmental factors, such as lack of vegetation.[4]
Prey
P. manokwari mainly
Predators
There are no known predators of P. manokwari. However, it is a
Invasive species characteristics
Platydemus manokwari has been introduced to several tropical and subtropical islands such as Micronesia, the Marquesas, the Society Islands, Samoa, Melanesia, and the Hawaiian Islands. These islands often harbor endemic radiations of rare and endangered snail species, which are a primary source of nutrition for Platydemus manokwari.[8] Platydemus manokwari has also been introduced to several Japanese Islands. In 2015, P. manokwari was found in Puerto Rico and in Florida, from which it could further invade the mainland southern US.[3][12] In 2021, it was reported from the French islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Martin in the Antilles.[13] In 2023, it was reported in Brisbane, Australia, the southernmost location to this date.[14]
Genetics
Two
References
- Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France. 87: 609–615.
- PMID 24688873.
- "There is some variation in the literature about the date of description of P. manokwari, 1962 or 1963. We carefully examined the original publication. The paper was presented at a meeting in December 1962 and is included in the volume dated 1962, but the actual date of publication was April 18, 1963. In accord with Article 21.1 (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1999), the date of the taxon is 1963. The bibliographical date of the publication remains 1962, but the taxon is Platydemus manokwari de Beauchamp, 1963."
- ^ PMID 26131377.
- ^ S2CID 84622655.
- ^ a b Platydemus manokwari Archived 2 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine. zipcodezoo.com, accessed 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Platydemus manokwari (New Guinea flatworm) - JCU". Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.. cms.jcu.edu.au, accessed 29 October 2009.
- ^ a b Ogren, R. (June 1995). "Predation Behavior of Land Planarians." Hydrobiologia 305:105–111
- ^ .
- ^ Sugiura, S., Yamaura Y. (2009) "Potential impacts of the invasive flatworm Platydemus manokwari on arboreal snails". Biological Invasions 11(3): 737–742
- .
- ^ Ryuji, A.; et al. ""(July 2004) "Changing Epidemiology of Angiostrongyliasis Cantonensis in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan". Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases. 54: 184–186.
- ISSN 0036-8075.
- PMID 33903410.
- S2CID 265514845.
- ISSN 2380-2359.
Further reading
- Kaneda, M.; Kitagawa, K.; Ichinohe, F. (1990). "Laboratory rearing method and biology of Platydemus manokwari De Beauchamp (Tricladida: Terricola: Rhynchodemidae)". Applied Entomology and Zoology. 25 (4): 524–528. .
- Muniappan R. (1990) "Use of the planarian, Platydemus manokwari, and other natural enemies to control the giant African snail". In: Bay-Petersen J. (ed.) The use of natural enemies to control agricultural pests. Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region, Taipei, pp 179–183.