This called a hammer-head worm. There are four different species of these Bipalium flatworms currently found in the US. Three eat only earthworms; one eats snails and slugs. Bipalium kewense is found across the southern states and may get over 10 inches. It has five dark stripes along the back including a thin middle stripe. Bipalium adventitium is found across the northern states, reaching about 4 inches. It has one narrow dark stripe on the back. Bipalium vagum is the mollusk eater now found in the southeastern US. It has a three thick dark stripes, a dark neck collar, and two dark head spots.
It has a wide distribution in warm climates, many reports throughout California. It needs a moist habitat and is usually encountered near outdoor water faucets, where the soil often remains wet. It original home is unknown but is possibly the Indo-Malayan region.
Having never come across one of these worms in my 45 years, I must admit that I thought it was a leech at first, but later questioned that notion since I am not aware of blood sucking leeches in the central valley and Jasmine had no history of travel outside the central valley or an exotic Kai pond. I suspect Jasmine found this critter while outside and decided to try and eat it.
We have often seen these leech like worms specially in monsoon (rain) here in panchgani, in India. Assuming it a bloodsucker, I tried killing it with kitchen salt and it worked, just like it does with a leech. This thing just kind of melted and shrinked reacting to sodium chloride. But Im not sure if it belongs to leech family. Maybe you can clarify if it is harmful.
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