''Bipalium nobile'' is a
land planarian of the subfamily
Bipaliinae found in Japan.
Description
''Bipalium nobile'' is a very long planarian, reaching up to in length. As in other species of ''
Bipalium
''Bipalium'' is a genus of large predatory land planarians. They are often loosely called "hammerhead worms" or "broadhead planarians" because of the distinctive shape of their head region. Land planarians are unique in that they possess a "creep ...
'', the head is expanded, being fan-shaped in live animals. The dorsal color is pale yellowish brown with five blackish brown longitudinal stripes. The head is usually darker than the rest of the body.
Ecology
Little is known about the ecology of ''B. nobile''. The species started to be found in
Tokyo by the end of the 1970s. As it was not reported in previous surveys in the area, it is assumed to be introduced from elsewhere.
Studies on regeneration have shown that ''B. nobile'' has a great regenerative ability similar to that of
freshwater planarians.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5178834
Geoplanidae
Invertebrates of Japan