Plato is a planarian, also known as a flatworm. He lives on the bottom of a peaceful pond. Planarians are most famous for their ability to regenerate!

Regeneration is a process that allows plants and animals to replace lost or damaged parts

Thanks for the invitation Priscilla!

Plato, has a very busy day ahead of him! He is invited to a birthday party for his friend, Priscilla. However, he has many errands to finish before he can go!

Before the birthday party, Plato has to work out at the local gym, find a gift for Priscilla, and pick out food to bring to the party! Plato decides to go to the gym first . . .

Plato goes to the gym because he wants to be muscular! However, all flatworms, including Plato, are anything but.

I'm flat like a pancake! Hmmm . . . pancakes . . .

Flatworms are referred to as acoelomates, which is a fancy way of saying that their bodies are so flat, there isn't room for internal body cavities. You can say that Plato is flat just like a pancake!

Can you spot me?

Plato's flat body allows oxygen and carbon dioxide to move into and out of his body right through his skin. No need for lungs!

After the gym Plato heads over to the local mall in hopes of finding a present for his friend, Priscilla. However, Plato doesn't take the bus or drive a car to the mall . . .

Good workout today Plato!

Hey bro, can you give me a ride home?

Instead, Plato moves around by beating his cilia, little structures that look like hairs, that are present on his abdomen. This allows him to glide along the water on a film of mucus.

When Plato finally gets to the mall, he realizes he doesn't know what to get Priscilla for her birthday! After a little bit of thinking, Plato heads over to the glasses store . . .

Plato thinks that Priscilla might like a pair of glasses! Until he remembers that . . .

Priscilla might NOT like glasses as a gift! Most planaria have two eyes called eyespots. They only sense light and water currents so no need for glasses!. Their eyespots always looked crossed-and nobody knows why!

Look at his eyes!

So instead of finding a pair of glasses for Priscilla, Plato thinks he might be able to find a better gift at the music store!

Maybe I should get her headphones!

But I'm already here . . .

Would you like to make an appointment?

Plato thinks that Priscilla might like a pair of headphones for her birthday! Until he remembers that . . .

Many planarian species have ear-like structures on their heads that DON'T detect sounds. Instead, they detect chemicals. You can say that they taste and smell with their ears!

I guess no headphones for Priscilla . . .

It seems like Plato is having little success finding a gift. But all the shopping and searching has made him thirsty. Plato decides to go to the food court for a drink of water.

But it's important that Plato doesn't have too much water! Luckily, Plato has a system for osmoregulation that does just that. After his drink, Plato leaves the mall and looks for food to bring to the party.

I can't have too much water

Plato, just like other flatworms, has a digestive system in order to break down and absorb food.

However, planaria don't eat hamburgers, french fries, and desserts like we do.

Planaria tend to eat smaller invertebrates and decaying bio-matter such as partially decomposed leaves. Plato suddenly gets an idea!

Plato decides to cook up some of his favorite food. He hopes that the rest of the guests at the party enjoy his cooking!

Although Plato has accomplished a lot today, he realizes that he STILL hasn't found a birthday present for his friend! Perhaps if he RELAXES he might be able to think of a good present . . .

A lot of people would choose to relax on the beach! However it wouldn't be Plato's first choice. Plato spends most of his time in the dark. This is because flatworms are photophobic . . .

. . . . .which means that they tend to avoid light.

I love the dark!

Plato spends hours planning and thinking of a special birthday present for his friend. However, he realizes that he doesn't have enough time to get ready for the party AND buy a present. So he comes up with a plan!