Land Mollusks and Worms - non-native

Land Planarian (hammerhead flatworm) (Family Geoplanidae) on Jul 28, 2021

Submitter does not have a specimen

Description of specimen

Roughly 2 inch long, black head, brown body

Commentary

Thank you for your report! There are a few non-native flathead planarians in Oregon with similar characteristics, so I am unable to say which specific species this is. There are currently no actions being taken about these, but your observation helps us understand their distribution in the state and becomes a resource for future work.
Best,
-Lindsey

Lindsey Wise
July 29, 2021, 9:45 a.m.

Resources

Several species of flathead worms have become invasive in the US. They can be difficult to tell apart and are not well-studied. Species reported from Oregon include Bipalium adventitum, Bipalium kewense, and Caenoplana coerulea among others.

Location

On the surface of dirt in a 4x8 raised garden bed

Expert Reviewer

Mrs. Lindsey Wise
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, inr.oregonstate.edu/orbic
Oregon iMapInvasives
Institute for Natural Resources
Portland State University

© 2025 Portland State University | Contact us for questions regarding site content