Discovery at Shepreth
A FLATWORM with around 60 eyes has been discovered at Shepreth L Moor Nature Reserve.
The worm is believed to be a completely new, undescribed species to Britain.
The discovery was found by Brian Eversham, chief executive of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
Brian Eversham said: “I was taking wildlife pictures one Sunday morning and turned over a log to reveal this rather cute flatworm.”
Leading biology expert Dr Hugh Jones believes the flatworm is of antipodean descent but may carry out DNA testing to determine its exact ancestry.
Dr Jones had only seen one specimen of the species in the Netherlands in April this year before Mr Eversham’s discovery.
It is thought the flatworm could have originated from New Zealand or Australia.
Most Read
- 1 School to make 'wide-ranging changes' following Ofsted inspection
- 2 Fowlmere residents voice objections to housing development
- 3 Kite Festival set to return to Royston next month
- 4 Herts sex offender assaulted victim while she slept
- 5 Citizens Advice: What to do if you have issues with delayed or cancelled flights
- 6 Tractors take to the streets to raise money for hospital
- 7 Royston judoka Reid relishing Commonwealth Games chance
- 8 7 of the most beautiful churches in Hertfordshire
- 9 'Hooded thieves' stole three vehicles
- 10 Bassingbourn Village College students win Pitch for the Prize competition
Mr Eversham added: “It is likely to be a close relative of a species found in Northern Ireland called Kontikia andersoni.
“Britain is one of the best countries for documenting wildlife so it’s quite unusual to find a species here which has not been seen before.”
