About the Fuchsia Flatworm
The Fuchsia Flatworm can reach a length of about 18-48 mm.The upper surface of the body is a fuchsia color with small white dots and two marginal red and orange bands without dots. These Flatworms have a bright coloration that warns off predators so they aren't afraid to crawl around and feed. Fuchsia Flatworms feed on various colonial ascidians.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthe
Class: Turbellaria
Order: Polycladida
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Genus: Pseudoceros
Species: ferrugineus
Phylum: Platyhelminthe
Class: Turbellaria
Order: Polycladida
Family: Pseudocerotidae
Genus: Pseudoceros
Species: ferrugineus
Location & Habitat
It can be found in the external slope or top coral reef, at a depth of 1-15 m. It is widespread in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Indonesian Archipelagos to Central Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Palau in Micronesia, Philippines, and the islands of Hawaii.
Human Impact
Since these flatworms are nocturnal they are a rare find on dives in coral reefs. Also, living in coral reefs are at risk from pollution and over fishing from humans.
Interesting Facts
- The Fuchsia Flatworm is a very uncommon species of flatworms
- They are nocturnal
- They have aposematic coloring (warning coloration ie. bright colors) to warn off predators
Sources
- http://amazingpicturesofanimals.blogspot.com/2014/03/pseudoceros-ferrugineus-fuchsia.html
- http://darkerview.com/darkview/uploads/Hawaii/Diving/CD60-16-10248-DC.jpg
- https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2903/14049028319_6f40ffa3e4_z.jpg
- http://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52325-Pseudoceros-ferrugineus
- https://www.sites.google.com/site/infowhenyouneedit/fuchsia-flatworms