They are often loosely called "hammerhead worms" or "broadhead planarians" because of the distinctive shape of their head region.

[6] The name Bipalium comes from Latin bi-, "two" + pala, "shovel" or "spade", because species in this genus resemble a pickaxe.

Later, in 1899, Ludwig von Graff divided it into three genera according to the shape of the head:[8] Josef Müller, in 1902, considered that no sufficient anatomical basis existed for this distinction, and reunited them under Bipalium.

The planarians cover, or cap, the prostomium, peristomium, and anterior end to stop the violent reaction by the earthworm.

B. adventitium reproduces sexually and creates egg capsules, which hatch around 3 weeks post-deposition.

Asexual fragmentation is its main reproductive strategy in temperate regions and most individuals never develop sexual organs.

[23] This species is a voracious predator of earthworms, and has been identified as a nuisance in the southern USA in earthworm-rearing beds.

As noted by the University of Florida IFAS department, Other animals rarely devour land planarians, since surface secretions appear distasteful, if not toxic.

Protozoans, including flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, and nematodes have been detected in land planarians.

This species has been found in several Gulf Coast states,[11] and in 2022, specimens were located extending further north into Arkansas.