10-25-08 Mystery Worm

Some of the Future Scientists may have seen the mystery worm collected by the group's intrepid leader.

Upon further review, this worm was a "hammerhead worm" or a "land planarian".

The sample picture is from the University of Florida site http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/misc/land_planarians.htm. There, you can read more about the natural history of this worm, and how it would totally crush an earthworm in a fight.

Just as a teaser to read more: the land planarian has an interesting primary form of reproduction - it rips off its butt and the nubbin grows a head and becomes a new worm. Check it out!