 |
|
| flatworms text index | photo index |
| worms > Phylum Platyhelminthes > Class Turbellaria > Order Polycladida |
| Spangled flatworm Acanthozoon sp. Family Pseudocerotidae updated Feb 2020 Where seen? Like a glittery black evening gown, this amazingly large flatworm is commonly seen especially on our Southern shores. On coral rubble, near living reefs. Seasonally, it can be plentiful, with many worms encountered during a single visit. Features: 8-12cm long, the worm can be as large as the palm of our hand! Body black with lots of little black bumps (known as papillae) that are yellow or orange tipped, some with a white base that gives the appearance of larger white spots. Margin white. Underside pale-whitish with a white outer margin and a black inner margin. It has a pair of small, pointed, ear-like pseudotentacles made up of simple folded edges of the body. The flatworm can be quite active, especially at night. Like a stealthy
spotted mat, it is often seen gliding rapidly, hugging the surface
closely, ruffling the body edges as it moves. One was even swimming
from one seagrass blade to another, elegantly ruffling its body edges
to 'fly' through the water. Sometimes, you might come across what
appears to be a very large Spangled flatworm. Look closely and
it will may turn out to be two such flatworms! |
 Swimming actively from one seagrass blade to another. Pulau Semakau, Jan 05 |
 Pseduotentacles; body with little bumps with yellow tips, some with a white base. |
 Two worms 'penis fencing'. Beting Bronok, Jun 17 |
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
| Spangled flatworms on Singapore shores |
On wildsingapore
flickr
|
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
 |
 |
 Pulau Pawai, Dec 09 |
 Pulau Berkas, May 10 |
| flatworm swimming from SgBeachBum on Vimeo. |
| Penis fencing in flatworms from Loh Kok Sheng on Vimeo. |
|
Acknowledgement Grateful thanks to Rene Ong for sharing details and identifying the flatworms on this page. References
|