A vibrant blue, hammerhead worm was one in every of two new species discovered by scientists that might pose an invasive species menace.
The worm, named Diversibipalium mayottensis, was discovered on the French-owned Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, which lies between Madagascar and Mozambique.
The green-blue iridescent creature measures about 1.1 inches in size and is the sister species of different hammerhead worms, that means it might present an perception into their evolution.
Diversibipalium mayottensis is one in every of two new hammerhead worm species described in the open entry journal PeerJ on February 1. The opposite, a black worm named Humbertium covidum, which was found in Italy.
Each these hammerhead worms might doubtlessly grow to be invasive species, the research authors stated—though the distant location of the blue worm meant it poses much less of a menace than its counterpart.
In at the moment's globalized world, invasive species can disrupt finely balanced ecosystems and threaten native species.
Examine co-author Jean-Lou Justine, from the Muséum Nationwide d'Histoire Naturelle (ISYEB) in France, stated how a lot of a menace the brand new worm species pose is unknown.
"What we all know, nonetheless, is that invasive species of land planarians are a menace to soil biodiversity and ecology," he informed Newsweek. "There's a single detailed ecological research revealed on this discipline ... They discovered that the biomass of earthworms was 20 % decrease the place the invasive flatworm was current."
Justine stated that Humbertium covidum, the hammerhead worm present in Italy, posed the principle menace as a possible invasive species. 1000's of worms of that sort had been present in a single backyard in Italy, he stated.
Land flatworms like Humbertium covidum are predators that feed on soil and the animals equivalent to earthworms and snails that dwell. Their introduction in areas the place they don't seem to be native might threaten soil biodiversity by disrupting these ecosystems.
The worms described by Justine and his crew can not traverse the big distances between continents, however they'll hitch a experience on human transport making these journeys.
"Land flatworms don't fly, don't swim, and are very gradual on land," he stated. "They're usually transported with potted vegetation: they're undetectable within the soil transported in every pot, and even beneath the pot. They solely technique to keep away from future invasions is to restrict the transport of potted vegetation."
There may be already some recognition of this drawback on mainland Europe. The European Fee (EC) is presently contemplating the issue and since 2019 has carried out measures that require imported potted vegetation to be in an earth-free medium.
The EC introduced in 2019 measures it was taking to advertise plant well being, together with stricter measures to thrust back the menace posed by invasive species.
Justine stated the worm discovery highlights the dangers of invasive species and the position worldwide commerce and journey has. "It's after all worse in a globalized world, and invasive flatworms are just one instance amongst many others," he stated.
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