What Are Fresh Water Flatworms?

Fresh water flatworms are one of thousands of flatworms in the Platyhelminthes phylum of water creatures. This particular type of flatworm has a distinct body that is easily recognized by the naked eye. Fresh water flatworms are free-living marine creatures that find their own food and do not have to rely on another organism for their survival, unlike many of their parasitic family members.

  1. Flatworm Family

    • Flatworms are also known by the name turbellaria. Fresh water flatworms are part of the Platyhelminthes phylum. The Playheminth phylum has approximately 20,000 species of flatworms.

    Body

    • Fresh water flatworms have long, flat, soft bodies that measure between 1 mm and 30 mm in length. The head of a fresh water flatworm is triangular and contains two eyes. Flatworms have a bilaterally symmetrical body shape with a defined mesoderm tissue structure. The outer body of the flatworm is covered with cilia that allow them to move around. Fresh water flatworms do not have a complete internal body cavity.

    Food

    • Unlike other parasitic flatworms in that phylum, fresh water flatworms eat other living or dead soft bodied invertebrates, as well as plant matter. They also absorb oxygen through their bodies.

    Habitat

    • Fresh water flatworms can usually be found on or under rocks. Flatworms prefer areas where there is slower moving water. They also tend to live in areas with decaying organic matter. Temperate climates are the ideal environment for flatworms.

    Reproduction

    • Fresh water flatworms are hermaphroditic, meaning they contain male and female reproductive organs. Sperm is deposited from one flatworm to another to fertilize the eggs. When the eggs hatch, they look exactly like the adults, just smaller.