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worms > Phylum Platyhelminthes > Class Turbellaria > Order Polycladida
Phlegm flatworm
awaiting identification*
Suborder Acotylea
updated Feb 2020

Where seen? Ah choo!! Did someone just sneeze?! Resembling mobile phlegm, this flesh-coloured flatworm is sometimes seen on our Southern shores. On rocky shore boulders and under stones near the high water mark. It moves rapidly and changing shape from nearly circular to elongated as it slithers rapidly.

Features: 6-10cm. This large, rather fleshy flatworm is usually a uniformly pinkish or greyish beige, with a very smooth body surface. Sometimes slightly translucent with its internal parts visible. It does not have obvious pseudotentacles. It seems to eat rather large prey for a flatworm and is sometimes seen with alarmingly large lumps in the body.

With large lump in its body.
Labrador, May 06

Sentosa, Jun 09

Sentosa, Jan 06

*
Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.

Phlegm flatworms on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Pasir Ris Park, Jan 21
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.
 


Tanah Merah, Oct 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

Labrador, Feb 09
Shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Pulau Tekukor, Mar 24
Shared by Vincent Choo on facebook.


Lazarus, Apr 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Lazarus, Apr 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Big SIsters Island, Feb 22
Photo shared by Toh Chay Hoon on facebook.


Cyrene Reef, Aug 11
Photo shared byJames Koh on his blog.

Pulau Hantu, Jan 12
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.


Pulau Semakau, Dec 08
Photo shared byToh Chay Hoon on her flickr.

Terumbu Pempang Laut, Apr 11
Photo shared by Rene Ong on facebook.
 


Raffles Lighthouse, Aug 08
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Pulau Sudong, Dec 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his flickr.

Pulau Salu, Aug 10

Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks to Rene Ong for sharing details and identifying the flatworms on this page.

References

  • Rene S.L. Ong and Samantha J.W. Tong. 29 October 2018. A preliminary checklist and photographic catalogue of polyclad flatworms recorded from Singapore. Nature in Singapore 2018 11: 77–125
 
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