Read the story of the novel flatworm species that recently invaded across the southern United States and appears visually similar to its European cousin, Obama nungara. The scientists share their story of the journey to find this most secretive creature and what this might mean for our local ecosystems.
A Familiar Stranger
A new species of flatworm has just been discovered deep in the heart of the southern US, and it’s causing quite a commotion. The new creature, Amaga pseudobama (at right), closely resembles the invasive species Obama nungara that has established itself in parts of Europe.
Scientists stumbled upon this new flatworm in 2020 when they initially thought they must have had the European invader worm. But it was not until a lengthy molecular examination, slowed by the pandemic’s difficulties, that they determined it was an entirely new kind of turtle.
From their brown color to their few-centimetres-long bodies, they appear like a doppelganger of the flatworm. This shared appearance presents a huge challenge for citizen scientists and non-experts, because it will be difficult to differentiate the two species on photos only. At the end of the day, this might compromise how well we know both where and when Amaga pseudobama occurs if researchers mistake it from that other European species.
A Globetrotting Flatworm
Even though Amaga pseudobama is nearly identical to Obama nungara, it still has its own … wait for it… unique story. This new species comes from South America, as does its European cousin — although it has yet to be studied or observed in its natural home. Rather, it has moved along the equator and into the southern United States, like North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
We know that these flatworms are survivors, as their existing presence in seas all around the world attests to. The local researchers suspect that Amaga pseudobama may have already dispersed to other states, demanding care and delve into.
The discovery of yet another invasive flatworm in the US is alarming, especially since P. gotoi is not the only non-native flatworm that’s made an appearance in North America: exclusively terrestrial predatory land planarians like Platydemus manokwari have already colonized regions across the world. It is still unknown how these new arrivals might be affecting the ecology of places they are traveling to, but it is clear that their adaptations do allow them to survive in foreign habitats.
Conclusion
The story of Amaga pseudobama, a newly-defined species of invasive flatworm in the southern U.S., is a complex and interesting one. Because it looks so much like European Obama nungara, however, there are identification challenges to be met, and the matter of determining just how far this globe-trotting species has traveled is yet another puzzle piece; an enigma set against a backdrop as vast as the very mysteries that differentiate these fascinating creatures within south America itself. While we have yet to fully understand the secrets of Amaga pseudobama,our ongoing vigilance and cooperation will shed shade on the impact potential of this new invasive species for local ecosystems.
