Robin Gwen Agarwal, USA
Info
Pseudoceros montereyensis Hyman, 1953
Large oval Polyclad flatworm with ruffled margin. White with mid-dorsal black line tinged with red; continuous black line around margin except between anterior tentacles; dorsum speckled with elongate black marks and fewer white spots and red flecks.
Similar to Eurylepta californica (has criscossing black lines instead of spots & lacks black line around lateral edge of body).
Pseudoceros montereyensis prey on compound tunicates.
Reproduction:
The whirlworm can reproduce both asexually and sexually. This species is hermaphroditic, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs. When two whirlworms reproduce, they fight to decide who will be fertilized and who will be the fertilizer. The winner gets to act as the male individual and fertilize the other.
Large oval Polyclad flatworm with ruffled margin. White with mid-dorsal black line tinged with red; continuous black line around margin except between anterior tentacles; dorsum speckled with elongate black marks and fewer white spots and red flecks.
Similar to Eurylepta californica (has criscossing black lines instead of spots & lacks black line around lateral edge of body).
Pseudoceros montereyensis prey on compound tunicates.
Reproduction:
The whirlworm can reproduce both asexually and sexually. This species is hermaphroditic, meaning that it has both male and female reproductive organs. When two whirlworms reproduce, they fight to decide who will be fertilized and who will be the fertilizer. The winner gets to act as the male individual and fertilize the other.
