Kōrero: Marine animals without backbones

Multivirile flatworm

Multivirile flatworm

Most marine flatworms are free-living, found on the sea floor around seaweed and rocky reefs. They are often fragile and will break into pieces if touched. Although they have simple bodies, their reproductive system is complex. Each worm has both male and female parts. This thumb-sized flatworm from Kaikōura has between 226 and 229 penises arranged in a band around its thin body, and a central vagina.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection
Photograph by John J. Holleman

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Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, 'Marine animals without backbones - Simple worms', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/5852/multivirile-flatworm (accessed 18 April 2024)

He kōrero nā Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, i tāngia i te 12 Jun 2006