Not only is it one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world, the land planarian also causes terrifying infectious diseases.
Land Planarian, also known as snail worm, snail flatworm, or New Guinea flatworm, scientifically named Platydemus manokwari, is a species of flatworm in the family Geoplanidae.
Land Planarian also known as snail worm, snail flatworm.
This frightening invasive species poses a threat to native snail populations. They are so dangerous that experts from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have listed them among the 100 worst invasive species in the world.
The snail worm has a body only a few millimeters thick but can grow up to 65 millimeters in length. This species is naturally found in New Guinea but is migrating globally by “hitchhiking” on exotic crops or in soil.
This dangerous animal has aggressively invaded ecosystems in the UK, potentially leading to the extinction of garden snails and threatening local ecosystems. These snail worms can also consume rats, and when they eat dead rats, they carry within them the infectious disease pneumonia and spread it.
The vomit of this mollusk secretes a toxin that can easily corrode human skin.
Even more horrifying, this snail worm can cause harm to humans merely by vomiting. The vomit of this mollusk secretes a toxin that can easily corrode human skin.
Your best advice is to avoid this mollusk when you see it to ensure your safety.
