Bipalium pennsylvanicum explained

Bipalium pennsylvanicum, the three-lined land planarian, is a species of land planarian in the subfamily Bipaliinae.^{[1] [2]} They are native to Asia, but found mostly in Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas.^[3] They can reach a length of 5.1 inches (130 mm) or more, with a diet consisting mostly of earthworms. They reproduce sexually by creating a cocoon in the spring, but unlike related planarians, they cannot reproduce through binary fission. It is not recommended to touch these flatworms without gloves, because their mucous contains a toxin that is used for digesting prey and can cause skin irritation for some people.^[4]

Further reading

• Robert E. . Ogren . Joseph K . Sheldon . August 1991 . Ecological observations on the land planarian Bipalium pennsylvanicum Ogren, with references to phenology, reproduction, growth rate and food niche . Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science . 65 . 1 . 3–9 . 44148906 .

Notes and References

1. 10.2307/3226281 . 3226281 . Description of a New Three-Lined Land Planarian of the Genus Bipalium (Turbellaria: Tricladida) from Pennsylvania, U.S.A . Transactions of the American Microscopical Society . 106 . 1 . 21–30 . Ogren . Robert E . 1987 .
2. Web site: Hammerhead Flatworms and Other Land Planaria of Eastern North America . . July 20, 2022 . May 2, 2022.
3. Book: Barker . G.M. . Natural Enemies of Terrestrial Molluscs . 2004 . . . 0851993192 . 242–248 . July 30, 2022.
4. Web site: Draper . Erik . Hammerhead Hysteria . Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine . . July 30, 2022 . May 27, 2022.