Can anyone help me identify these please?

dippy · #1 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 11:07 AM

Hi All!

Can anyone help identify these beasties for me please? We found them in our drinking supply!! We are fed by an underground spring which is brackish at the best of times, but this is taking the term a bit too far and it would help to know what they are so I can inform my land agent.

Hope someone out there can help!

Thanks in advance, Dippy x

dippy · #2 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 11:10 AM

Forgot to say they are about 6mm long and look a little like slugs, or snails without shells crossed with leeches and flukes. They are dark brown in colour.

Thanks, Dippy xx

diggleken · #3 (**permalink**) 26-06-2010, 11:34 AM

Hi, welcome to WAB!
These look like flatworms, maybe Polycelis nigra - they feed on small larvae and dead rotting stuff, quite common..................

Cheers
Ken

dippy · #4 (**permalink**) 27-06-2010, 08:31 AM

Hi Ken

Thank you for your reply and identifying the wee beasties for me. I've just googled Polycelis Nigra and found a whole heap of info about them.

I guess given that they are used as an idicator for pollution from chemicals and salts we ought to be pleased we have such 'clean' water to drink. Can't find any reference as to whether they will breed inside us though once we've drunk the water they're happily living in!

I guess time will tell...

Thanks again, Dippy xx