Flatworms (Phylum Platyhelminthes)
The 75th plate from Ernst Haeckel' s Kunstformen der Natur (1904), depicting organisms classified as Platodes
Bedford's Flatworm (Pseudobiceros bedfordi)
An example of a marine flatworm
An example of a marine flatworm
Scientific Taxonomy and Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Sub- Kingdom: Eumetazoa
Superphylum: Platyzoa
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Classes that make up Phylum Platyhemlminthes:
Class Turbellaria (Flatworms and Turbellarians)
Class Monogenea (Parasitic Flukes)
Class Trematoda (Parasitic Flukes)
Class Cestoda(Tapeworms)
Orders from the Class Turbellaria:
Habitat of Flatworms
Flatworms are primarily in freshwater, marine, and damp terrestrial environments. Marine flatworms of the Turbellaria class, referred to as Polycladida, subsist in the littoral and sublittoral areas of the sea, becoming common amongst tropical corral reefs. Only a few species of Polycladida dwell in freshwater areas such as rivers, ponds, and lakes. Many Polyclad flatworms are to dominantly be found in large and immense salt water bodies of water such as the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Indo-Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. Parasite flatworms of the other Monogenea, Trematoda, and Cestoda flatworm classes populate the digestive or gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates when they have fully matured. As they develop through their juvenile years, parasite flatworms abide in the bodies of various animals.Humans may contract these parasites by eating the carcasses of parasite infested animals.
The Prey of Flatworms
As an free-living organisms, Polyclad( Marine) flat worms are often joined in the common enterprise of other invertebrates such as sponges, corals, bivalve mollusks and other sea creatures without a backbone. Therefore, Polyclad flatworms may use the other mentioned vertebrates as a source of food. As voracious carnivorous predators, Polyclads use eversible mouth parts referred as pharynx to attack and digest prey. Oysters are often a favorite meal amongst the Polyclad flatworm, who also hunt ea squirts, bryozoans, small worms, crustaceans, or snails. Some Polyclads are even cannibalistic to one another. Parasite flatworms will automatically absorb and consume the food predigested by their host, human or animal.
The Predators of Flatworms
Having a high amount of toxicity and a very bad taste, marine flatworms are highly unpleasant and undesirable to many predators. However, there are some organisms that can hunt and eat these interesting creatures.
Acording to the website http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm , these are the feared flatworm predators:
Chelidonura varians Eliot 1903, THE Flatworm Eating Sea Slug! Tropical Indo-West Pacific. To seven cm. in length. This one off of Heron Island, Queensland, Australia.
Lysmata wurdemanni (Gibbes 1850), Peppermint Shrimp, Caribbean Cleaner Shrimp. Tropical West Atlantic. Lives singly or in groups. Gets along with all aquarium species. Commercially produced. A reclusive, sometimes misidentified species (there are other shrimp from the area that are similar) used in the fight to limit Aiptasia Anemones in aquariums.
Halichoeres chrysus Randall 1981 (1), is a fish of two "good" and one bad common name. It should be called the Golden or Canary Wrasse for its bright bold sun-yellow color, but is most often listed as the Yellow Coris Wrasse (Arggghhh!, it is not a Coris genus member of course). This is an exemplary aquarium species that is suitable for peaceful fish-only and reef systems. To a mere 4 inches or so total length. Aquarium & S. Sulawesi photos. Eastern Indian
Pseudocheilinus evanidus Jordan & Evermann 1903, the Pin-Striped or Striated Wrasse (2). I like this fish’s other common names, the Disappearing or Vanishing Wrasse for its bashfulness. To a grand size of three inches. Indo-Pacific, including Red Sea and Hawai'i. Two in the Red Sea.
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia (Bleeker 1857), the Sixline Wrasse (2). A feisty, though small (to 4") a reef tank species. Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea in its distribution. Aquarium and Queensland, Australia images.
The Anatomy of a Flatworm
Kingdom: Animalia
Sub- Kingdom: Eumetazoa
Superphylum: Platyzoa
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Classes that make up Phylum Platyhemlminthes:
Class Turbellaria (Flatworms and Turbellarians)
Class Monogenea (Parasitic Flukes)
Class Trematoda (Parasitic Flukes)
Class Cestoda(Tapeworms)
Orders from the Class Turbellaria:
- Catenulida
- Macrostomida
- Licithoepitheliata
- Rhabdocoela
- Prolecithophora
- Proseriata
- Tricladida
- Polycladida
Habitat of Flatworms
Flatworms are primarily in freshwater, marine, and damp terrestrial environments. Marine flatworms of the Turbellaria class, referred to as Polycladida, subsist in the littoral and sublittoral areas of the sea, becoming common amongst tropical corral reefs. Only a few species of Polycladida dwell in freshwater areas such as rivers, ponds, and lakes. Many Polyclad flatworms are to dominantly be found in large and immense salt water bodies of water such as the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Indo-Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. Parasite flatworms of the other Monogenea, Trematoda, and Cestoda flatworm classes populate the digestive or gastrointestinal tract of vertebrates when they have fully matured. As they develop through their juvenile years, parasite flatworms abide in the bodies of various animals.Humans may contract these parasites by eating the carcasses of parasite infested animals.
The Prey of Flatworms
As an free-living organisms, Polyclad( Marine) flat worms are often joined in the common enterprise of other invertebrates such as sponges, corals, bivalve mollusks and other sea creatures without a backbone. Therefore, Polyclad flatworms may use the other mentioned vertebrates as a source of food. As voracious carnivorous predators, Polyclads use eversible mouth parts referred as pharynx to attack and digest prey. Oysters are often a favorite meal amongst the Polyclad flatworm, who also hunt ea squirts, bryozoans, small worms, crustaceans, or snails. Some Polyclads are even cannibalistic to one another. Parasite flatworms will automatically absorb and consume the food predigested by their host, human or animal.
The Predators of Flatworms
Having a high amount of toxicity and a very bad taste, marine flatworms are highly unpleasant and undesirable to many predators. However, there are some organisms that can hunt and eat these interesting creatures.
Acording to the website http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm , these are the feared flatworm predators:
Chelidonura varians Eliot 1903, THE Flatworm Eating Sea Slug! Tropical Indo-West Pacific. To seven cm. in length. This one off of Heron Island, Queensland, Australia.
Lysmata wurdemanni (Gibbes 1850), Peppermint Shrimp, Caribbean Cleaner Shrimp. Tropical West Atlantic. Lives singly or in groups. Gets along with all aquarium species. Commercially produced. A reclusive, sometimes misidentified species (there are other shrimp from the area that are similar) used in the fight to limit Aiptasia Anemones in aquariums.
Halichoeres chrysus Randall 1981 (1), is a fish of two "good" and one bad common name. It should be called the Golden or Canary Wrasse for its bright bold sun-yellow color, but is most often listed as the Yellow Coris Wrasse (Arggghhh!, it is not a Coris genus member of course). This is an exemplary aquarium species that is suitable for peaceful fish-only and reef systems. To a mere 4 inches or so total length. Aquarium & S. Sulawesi photos. Eastern Indian
Pseudocheilinus evanidus Jordan & Evermann 1903, the Pin-Striped or Striated Wrasse (2). I like this fish’s other common names, the Disappearing or Vanishing Wrasse for its bashfulness. To a grand size of three inches. Indo-Pacific, including Red Sea and Hawai'i. Two in the Red Sea.
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia (Bleeker 1857), the Sixline Wrasse (2). A feisty, though small (to 4") a reef tank species. Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea in its distribution. Aquarium and Queensland, Australia images.The Anatomy of a Flatworm
"Of the worms, the Platyhelminthes ("flat worms") are considered the prototypes, having developed such innovations as bilateral symmetry, a head, tail, and three germinal tissue layers (stinging celled animals, comb-jellies... only have two). These simple soft-bodied animals use their skin to breath through and only have one body opening, the mouth serving also as an anus."
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm
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