Strange creature grows its own head back, turns its prey into water

What is a hammerhead worm? What are the characteristics of a hammerhead worm? Let's find out together!

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A man named Danish Ho from the southern Malaysian state of Johor discovered this strange creature. Mr. Danish Ho thought he had discovered a new species of snake because he had never seen such a creature before.

This terrifying "monster" is actually a hammerhead worm, a type of flatworm belonging to the Geoplanidae family. This is the largest worm ever recorded in the world. When fully grown, their bodies can reach up to 60cm in length, causing many people to mistake them for snakes.

The video captures terrifying footage of a creature that looks like it came straight out of a science fiction movie.

What you need to know about hammerhead worms

• Scientific name: Bipalium sp.
• Other names: Broad-headed flatworm, "landchovy"
• Distinguishing features: Large terrestrial flatworm with a hammer-shaped head and gastropods or "cow feet"
• Size range: From 5 cm (B. adventitium) to over 20 cm in length (B. kewense)
• Diet: Carnivorous, known to eat earthworms and each other
• Longevity: Possibly immortal
• Habitat: Distributed worldwide, prefers warm, humid habitats
• Conservation status: Not assessed
• Kingdom: Animal
• Phylum: Platyhelminthes
• Class: Rhabditophora
• Order: Tricladida
• Family: Geoplanidae
• Fun fact: Hammerhead worms are one of the very few terrestrial invertebrates known to produce the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin.

The most distinctive features of hammerhead worms are their fan- or hammer-shaped heads and long, flattened bodies. The underside of the flatworms has a large "crawling sole" that is used for locomotion. Species are distinguished by head shape, size, color, and striping patterns.

Hammerhead worms are carnivorous, and are considered a dangerous invasive species in the United States and Europe. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Hammerhead worms hunt by secreting a sticky substance that immobilizes their victims. They then use enzymes to melt their prey into water, sucking the liquid nutrients into their bodies.

Their main food is earthworms, snails and insects. If they cannot hunt, hammerhead worms cannibalize themselves and regenerate in a short time.

Hammerhead worms have a wide variety of reproductive methods, some species lay eggs while others simply split in half. After splitting, the hind end can move immediately and a new head will grow after a few days. Hammerhead worms reproduce asexually several times a month.

According to research by scientists, hammerhead worms have no respiratory system, no bone structure, no circulatory system and the mouth can play the same role as the anus.