Bipalium kewense

Abstract: Predatory behaviour of land planarians is seldom observed or reported. Aspects reported are (1) finding prey; (2) attack behaviour; (3) capture using adhesive mucus, pharyngeal action, poisonous secretions, physical embrace; (4) feeding by extension of pharynx, releasing copious digestive fluid. The species Bipalium kewense, B. adventitium and B. pennsylvanicum attack earthworms, immobilizing them by physical holding, digesting by pharyngeal secretions and then ingesting the treated tissue. Group attacks on giant African land snails involving chemotactic tracking, occur in Platydemus manokwari and Endeavouria septemlineata. Specialized capture methods are used by some species; Rhynchodemus sylvaticus uses an expanded cephalic hood to capture small insects and in Africa, termites are captured by the elongated anterior of Microplana termitophaga as planarians wait within the colony air shaft openings to ensnare the workers in sticky mucus. The result of extensive predation by land planarians may seriously reduce the prey, e.g., providing effective population control of giant land snails by introduced Platydemus manokwari, or causing serious depletion of desirable earthworm populations by the exotic Artioposthia triangulata in North Ireland.

Abstract: Background: Species of the genera Bipalium and Diversibipalium, or bipaliines, are giants among land planarians (family Geoplanidae), reaching length of 1 m; they are also easily distinguished from other land flatworms by the characteristic hammer shape of their head. Bipaliines, which have their origin in warm parts of Asia, are invasive species, now widespread worldwide. However, the scientific literature is very scarce about the widespread repartition of these species, and their invasion in European countries has not been studied. Methods: In this paper, on the basis of a four year survey based on citizen science, which yielded observations from 1999 to 2017 and a total of 111 records, we provide information about the five species present in Metropolitan France and French overseas territories. We also investigated the molecular variability of cytochrome-oxidase 1 (COI) sequences of specimens. Results: Three species are reported from Metropolitan France: Bipalium kewense, Diversibipalium multilineatum, and an unnamed Diversibipalium 'black' species. We also report the presence of B. kewense from overseas territories, such as French Polynesia (Oceania), French Guiana (South America), the Caribbean French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy, and Montserrat (Central America), and La Reunion island (off South-East Africa). For B. vagum, observations include French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Montserrat, La Reunion, and Florida (USA). A probable new species, Diversibipalium sp. 'blue,' is reported from Mayotte Island (off South-East Africa). B. kewense, B. vagum and D. multilineatum each showed 0% variability in their COI sequences, whatever their origin, suggesting that the specimens are clonal, and that sexual reproduction is probably absent. COI barcoding was efficient in identifying species, with differences over 10% between species; this suggests that barcoding can be used in the future for identifying these invasive species. In Metropolitan south-west France, a small area located in the Department of Pyrenees-Atlantiques was found to be a hot-spot of bipaliine biodiversity and abundance for more than 20 years, probably because of the local mild weather. Discussion: The present findings strongly suggest that the species present in Metropolitan France and overseas territories should be considered invasive alien species. Our numerous records in the open in Metropolitan France raise questions: as scientists, we were amazed that these long and brightly coloured worms could escape the attention of scientists and authorities in a European developed country for such a long time; improved awareness about land planarians is certainly necessary.

Abstract: 1. 1. Carbamyl phosphate synthesis in mitochondria from land snail ( Otala lactea and Helix aspersa ) hepatopancreas, earthworm ( Lumbricus terrestris ) gut tissue and land planarian ( Bipalium kewense ) whole body is mediated, in part, by an enzyme that utilizes l -glutamine as a substrate and requires N-acetyl- l -glutamate as a cofactor. This glutamine enzyme was first described in hepato-pancreas of the snail Strophocheilus oblongus and now appears to be widely distributed among invertebrates. 2. 2. In addition to the glutamine enzyme, mitochondria from the earthworm and land planarian and possibly the snail Helix also possess an enzyme that utilizes ammonia in the presence of N-acetyl- l -glutamate and is therefore similar to carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I, the enzyme for arginine and urea biosynthesis in vertebrates. 3. 3. In all four species, the major site of carbamyl phosphate synthesis was in the mitochondrion and the major enzyme detected was the glutamine enzyme. In the earthworm, the amount of carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I was only slightly less than that of the glutamine enzyme and both enzymes were found in the soluble cellular fraction as well as in the mitochondrial fraction during localization studies.