Introduced: This Voracious Flatworm is Now Active in Austria Too

A flatworm species introduced from South America is rapidly spreading in Europe. The land planarian "Obama nungara" has now been detected in Austria for the first time, the Natural History Museum (NHM) announced. As a predator of earthworms and snails, this potentially invasive animal could impact the local soil ecosystem.

Four Discoveries in Nursery Near Tulln

As reported by the research team from the NHM and the University of Innsbruck in the journal "BioInvasions Records," four specimens of the flatworm species were discovered in a nursery near Tulln (Lower Austria) between November 2022 and August 2024. Genetic analyses by the first author Matthäus Greilhuber from the NHM showed that it is clearly "Obama nungara." According to the museum, the genus name Obama is derived from the Tupi language spoken by indigenous people in Brazil and means "leaf animal."

Earthworms as Preferred Prey

Land planarians are a group of terrestrial flatworms with about 900 known species worldwide, some of which also occur in Central Europe. They prefer to live in moist soil layers, under stones, wood, or leaves, and are predominantly nocturnal predators. Their prey includes earthworms, slugs, insect larvae, and woodlice, while they themselves have few enemies.

"Obama nungara" originally comes from South America. "Its spread in Europe - particularly through the trade in ornamental plants - has been documented several times in recent years, including in France and Italy, where numerous introduced species have been detected," Greilhuber explained in a statement. Exotic land planarians attract attention due to their size - the found animals were more than five centimeters long - and often bright colors.

Risk to Soil Quality and Biodiversity

Since "Obama nungara" is considered particularly adaptable and is classified as problematic due to the potential impact on earthworm populations in Europe, its first detection in Austria is "of great significance," according to researchers. They refer to France, where over 1,500 individuals of this flatworm species were collected from a single garden within a month. This demonstrates that these animals can sometimes reach high densities in their new habitats.

"The fact that earthworms - which are essential for soil quality - are among the preferred prey is cause for concern," says co-author Bernhard Egger from the Institute of Zoology at the University of Innsbruck. Because earthworms play a central role in the nutrient cycle and soil structure, the introduced flatworms could long-term impair soil quality. However, ecological studies directly investigating the impact on prey populations are still pending, the researchers emphasize.

It is still unclear whether "Obama nungara" will cope well with Austria's more continental climate compared to Western European countries, where the current distribution focus in Europe lies, and whether it will spread successfully. According to distribution models, Austria is at the eastern edge of the suitable area for the species. However, with climate warming, more suitable habitats for the animals could also emerge in Austria.

Sightings Should Be Documented and Reported

For the researchers, the discovery underscores the need for targeted monitoring and early measures against invasive species - especially in connection with the increasing global trade in plants and other goods. According to the World Biodiversity Council IPBES, invasive species are among the greatest threats to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and ultimately human well-being today. The scientists request that sightings be documented photographically and reported on nature observation platforms or to experts.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.