Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Correspondence
Published: 2020-08-12
Page range: 197–200
Abstract views: 109
PDF downloaded: 3

The invasive land flatworm Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) reaches a natural environment in the oceanic island of São Miguel (Açores)

Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Arlindo Bettio, 1000, São Paulo, SP, 03828-000, Brazil
Citizen scientist, retired high school teacher of Biology.
Ryan Institute and School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, University Rd., Galway, Ireland, H91 TK33.
Platyhelminthes Geoplanidae

Abstract

During an entomological sampling trip in the island of São Miguel (Açores, Portugal) on 02-11-2019 by José Rafael González-López, one specimen of the invasive flatworm Obama nungara Carbayo et al. 2016 was found under a rock (Fig. 1A). The specimen was photographed in situ and identified by its external morphology based on its large and broad leaf-like body with nearly parallel body margins, narrow and rounded anterior end, rounded posterior end, and dorsal pigmentation consisting of a light brown ground color covered with dark longitudinal and irregular stripes, and ventral surface grayish-white. Recent studies (Justine et al. 2020; Negrete et al. 2020) showed the reliability of photograph-based identification of O. nungara specimens. It is the sixth island where this species has been found (after Guernsey, Great Britain, Ireland, Corsica, and Madeira).

 

References

  1. Aldred, J. (2016) Warning over invasive flatworm posing threat to UK wildlife, The Guardian, London. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/03/warning-over-invasive-flatworm-which-poses-threat-to-uk-wildlife (accessed 13 March 2020)

    Álvarez-Presas, M., Mateos, E., Tudó, À., Jones, H. & Riutort, M. (2014) Diversity of introduced terrestrial flatworms in the Iberian Peninsula: a cautionary tale. PeerJ, 2 (2), e430.

    https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.430

    Boll, P.K. & Leal-Zanchet, A.M. (2016) Preference for different prey allows the coexistence of several land planarians in areas of the Atlantic Forest. Zoology, 119 (3), 162–168.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2016.04.002

    Carbayo, F., Álvarez-Presas, M., Jones, H.D. & Riutort, M. (2016) The true identity of Obama (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) flatworm spreading across Europe. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 177 (1), 5–28.

    https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12358

    Coleman, C.D. & Wall, D.H. (2015) Chapter 5. Soil Fauna: Occurrence, Biodiversity, and Roles in Ecosystem Function. In: Paul, E.A. (Ed.), Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry. Fourth Edition. Academic Press, London, pp. 111–149.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-415955-6.00005-0

    Haria, A.H., McGrath, S.P., Moore, J.P., Bell, J.P. & Blackshaw, R.P. (1998) Impact of the New Zealand flatworm (Artioposthia triangulata) on soil structure and hydrology in the UK. The Science of the Total Environment, 215, 259–265.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(98)00126-0

    Justine, J-L., Thévenot, J. & Winsor, L. (2014a) Les sept plathelminthes invasifs introduits en France. Phytoma, 674, 28–32.

    Justine, J-L., Winsor, L., Gey, D., Gros, P. & Thévenot, J. (2014b) The invasive New Guinea flatworm Platydemus manokwari in France, the first record for Europe: time for action is now. PeerJ, 2, e297.

    https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.297

    Justine, J-L., Winsor, L., Gey, D., Gros, P. & Thévenot, J. (2020) Obama chez moi! The invasion of metropolitan France by the land planarian Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae). PeerJ, 8, e8385.

    https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8385

    Lago-Barcia, D., Fernández-Álvarez, F.Á., Brusa, F., Rojo, I., Damborenea, C., Negrete, L., Grande, C. & Noreña, C. (2019) Reconstructing routes of invasion of Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) in the Iberian Peninsula. Biological Invasions, 21 (2), 289–302.

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-018-1834-9

    Lago-Barcia, D., Fernández-Álvarez, F.Á., Negrete, L., Brusa, F., Damborenea, C., Grande, C. & Noreña, C. (2015) Morphology and DNA barcodes reveal the presence of the non-native land planarian Obama marmorata (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) in Europe. Invertebrate Systematics, 29 (1), 12–22.

    https://doi.org/10.1071/IS14033

    Lowe, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S. & De Poorter, M. (2000) 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species. A selection from the global invasive species database. IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG), Auckland, 12 pp.

    Negrete, L., Lenguas Francavilla, M., Damborenea, C. & Brusa, F. (2020) Trying to take over the world: Potential distribution of Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae), the Neotropical land planarian that has reached Europe. Global Change Biology. [Early View]

    https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15208

    Russell, J.C., Meyer, J.-Y., Holme, N. & Pagad, S. (2017) Invasive alien species on islands: impacts, distribution, interactions and management. Environmental Conservation, 44 (4), 359–370.

    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892917000297

    Schultze, M. & Müller, F. (1857) Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Landplanarien, nach Mittheilungen des Dr. Fritz Müller in Brasilien und nach eigenen Untersuchungen von Dr. Max Schultze. Abhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft zu Halle, 4, 61–74.

    Sluys, R. (2016) Invasion of the flatworms. American Scientist, 104, 288–295.

    https://doi.org/10.1511/2016.122.288

    Soors, J., Van Den Neucker, T., Halfmaerten, D., Neyrinck, S. & De Baere, M. (2019) On the presence of the invasive planarian Obama nungara (Carbayo, Álvarez-Presas, Jones & Riutort, 2016) (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) in an urban area in Belgium. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 149 (1), 43–47.

    https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2019.29

    The Local (2019) Obama worm: Flesh eating flatworm with hundreds of eyes poses new threat to Spanish wildlife. The Local Europe AB, Stockholm. Available from: https://www.thelocal.es/20190723/obama-worm-flesh-eating-flatworm-with-hundreds-of-eyes-poses-new-threat-to-spanish-wildlife (accessed 1 February 2020)