Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia
Giant Leaf Worm Kaburakia excelsa
The giant leaf worm is a large, oval flatworm that crawls around rocks, stones, and undergrowth on the Pacific shores of North America. It is reddish-brown to tan, marked with darker spots, and when it is fully spread out, the branches of the giant leaf worm's digestive system may be seen through the skin. It feeds in the same way as most polyclad flatworms, by everting its pharynx over its prey. Most intertidal flatworms in this region are only about 1 in (2 cm) long, making this species easy to identify. The giant leaf worm is common on floating docks and in mussel beds.
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- Class Turbellaria
- Length Up to 4 in (10 cm)
- Depth Intertidal
- Habitat Under coastal rocks
- Distribution Temperate waters of northeastern Pacific
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