All of these reasons are why we stress the removal of this species from your property and are tracking its distribution," she added. "Furthermore, many invasive flatworms, slugs and snails transmit harmful nematode parasites. Those chemicals can cause skin irritation on humans and make domestic and range animals nauseous and sick for several days if they eat them. ![]() "It also secretes noxious chemicals for predatory defense and earthworm digestion. "This invasive flatworm harms our ecosystem by preying on earthworms that are necessary for the health of our forests, rangelands, gardens, etc.," she said. She explained that as the hammerhead flatworms prey on earthworms, it causes the invasive species to secrete a neurotoxin that poses a great threat to anyone that touches them or eats them. Morgan-Olvera confirmed with Newsweek these flatworms can be dangerous to humans. "This species preys on earthworms and has no known predators due to the neurotoxic slime and therefor destroys the quality of our Texas soils, like the Zebra Mussels have done to our Texas lake waters," Meyers-Shock warned. Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know. Debbie Meyers-Shock wrote on June 22 about the discovery of a flatworm in Dallas in a post that has since been shared over 71,000 times on the platform. Its name comes from the hammerhead shark, given its rounded "half-moon shaped head." Their body is also considered "snake-like," as the average hammerhead flatworm can grow between eight and 15 inches long.Īccording to a report from KTVT, the institute credits a viral Facebook post with raising awareness of the invasive species' presence in Texas. "What we have learned for Texas in the past week is Bipalium kewense is well-established in natural habitats throughout east, north, central and coastal regions of the state."Īccording to the Texas Invasive Species Institute's website, the hammerhead flatworm originates in Southeast Asia and have an affinity for warm climates. "Our Institute started tracking this flatworm in 2017 when we started receiving occasional reports around Houston, and some citizens provided anecdotal evidence of 'growing up with them' around Beaumont and east Texas-so we estimate it arrived in in the 1980s but there is not much historical data," she told Newsweek. Although she noted the species, known scientifically as Bipalium kewense, is most commonly found in the southeastern region of Texas, it has since been traced to other areas of the state like Dallas. ![]() A highly invasive species of hammerhead flatworms known for their toxic threat to humans has been discovered in Texas.ĭirector of Research and Education/Outreach at the Texas Invasive Species Institute Ashley Morgan-Olvera confirmed with Newsweek that the invasive hammerhead flatworm has been found throughout the state.
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