Black land planaria?

[Scythemantis]

I am currently in Florida for the first time and I keep finding these neat little flatworms under damp wood or leaf litter. They're about an inch long, pure black, flat and tapered on both ends like a leaf. A flattened, headless garden slug would be an accurate description. I know they aren't annelids because they move by gliding and have no segments. Don't have a means of uploading photos right now but my description should be more than enough, they couldn't be simpler.

Unfortunately the only information I can find on the internet regards the more colorful, predatory species that can be found here (which I haven't seen yet). Any idea what these "plain" ones are called, or more importantly, what they might eat?

 

[arachnophoria]

My biology knowledge is on the back burner on account of the prescriptions I am on,but I think these are grouped in the Platyhelmenthes classification.They should eat ditritus organisms,dead or injured worms,insect,arthropods,and maybe even decaying plant matter.You might try a mushed cricket even.They have the remarkable ability to regenerate 2 new worms if cut in half,but I think they are not as regernerative as aquatic forms.Neat and hope this helps or you find better advice.

 

[Galapoheros]

I've found something similar to what you're describing in e tx. I kept one for a while, kind of interesting. I never did figure out what it was eating. It laid a black round egg capsule. I finally just let it go. I think I took pics of it ..I'll look around.

I found the pics. Do they look like this? And I'm assuming the round thing is an egg capsule from the worm.

 

[arachnocat]

Wow! I would love to keep some of those. I read that they can be pests because they eat earthworms. Supposedly there are some in California. I may have to go searching for them.

 

[Scythemantis]

That's it allright, and what a neat egg!

 

[Galapoheros]

Yeah I was surprised to see that egg capsule. I didn't expect it to look like that coming from a flatworm. I remember watching a show where they were having drainage/puddle problems, forgot what country it was. They finally discovered that a giant flatworm was eating the earthworms that help soil drainage. They were pretty big flatworms. It was cool to watch one "chase down" an earthworm. Strange how the mouth is in the middle and underneath their body.