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• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Diet
• Reproduction
• Behavior
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
• More Info
• Notes
• Keep Exploring

Taxonomy

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name.

Physical Description

Species Kaburakia excelsa:

This giant flatworm has a band of eyespots along the entire margin of the body (may not be visible except in transmitted light), plus on its pair of short, blunt nuchal tentacles, at the bases of the tentacles, and in the region of the brain. Its gut outline follows the multi-branching polyclad pattern. The color is tan with small spots or streaks of dark brown dorsally, lighter tan with few if any spots ventrally. Has no suckers on the ventral surface.

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Sitka, Alaska to Newport Harbor, CA

Habitat

Among mussels and under rocks, sometimes on pilings or on boat bottoms among fouling organisms. Depth Range: Mid-intertidal to subtidal.

Diet

Will eat mussel tissue in the laboratory.

Reproduction

In Washington, gravid individuals can be found in March. 150-160 golden yellow eggs are laid individually in capsules, in a tight-packed monolayer or bilayer on rocks.

Behavior

The tentacles are just in front of the brain and can be retracted. This animal is negatively phototactic. The margins of the body wrinkle as the animal moves.

Similar Species

This species if far larger than any other species in this area, and is one of the largest in the world. Most other flatworms in this area are up to only about 3 cm long. Polyclads are the only group of flatworms in our area that get larger than microscopic size.

Members of the genus Kaburakia:

There are approximately 2 species and subspecies in this genus: K. excelsa (Giant Flatworm) · K. gloriosa

Bibliography

• Kozloff, Eugene N., 1987. Marine Invertebrates of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle, WA. 511 pp. ISBN 0-295-96530-4

More Info

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed December 19, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 19, 2007:

• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, Gwaii Haanas Invertebrates

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 54097
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13743876
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 153469