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The mission of the Ocean Census is to accelerate the discovery of ocean life to advance fundamental science, empower conservation, and fuel innovation for the future of our planet.

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Gallery

Phylum

OC-SP-0002906

Port Fairy Abalone Farm;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0060;MRG885-26;Diplomma sp. SMSA033;SMSA033;SP03123;AN019655;NMVF290226;PID0176630

Species ID

OC-SP-0002906

Discovered

Phylum

Nemertea

Species ID

OC-SP-0002906

Provisional Species Name

Diplomma sp_SMSA033

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Diplomma

Lowest Known Rank

Genus

Status

Discovered

Does the taxonomist(s) intend to work on this material further?

3. I/We are not sure yet. This is of course no problem, we will display your species info (if not embargoed) while you work out your species description plan.

Embargo

No

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Nemertea

Class

Hoplonemertea

Order

Monostilifera

Family

Oerstediidae

Genus

Diplomma

Date Identified

02/01/2026

Taxonomic Remarks

Related to and morphologically resembles another local undescribed species Diplomma sp. SMSA034, but can be differentiated from it by having somewhat darker body color, only two accessory stylet sacs (as compared to 3-5) and COI sequence data.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

08/04/2026

Description of Material

Body 55 mm long, 1.7 mm wide, sandy brown to orange, semitranslucent. Bright red cerebral ganglia and lateral nerve cords show through body wall. Cephalic lobe slightly narrower than adjacent body, 2-3 time as long as it is wide, not clearly separated from body (neck furrow indistinct). A pair of prominent transverse cerebral organ furrows found about halfway between the anterior tip and cerebral ganglia. An irregular row of 15-27 ocelli, all similar in size, along each side of head, extending from anterior tip to just posterior to cerebral ganglia. Stylet basis conical to pear shaped, widest at its distal rounded end. S/B =1.36. Two accessory stylet sacs with 5-6 stylets each.

Ecology

Intertidal. Found in sediments around roots of Caulerpa brownii and Zostera.

Distribution

Only known from Point Grey and Port Fairy, Victoria.

Scientific Name Authorship

Maslakova, Svetlana

Port Fairy Abalone Farm;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0060;MRG885-26;Diplomma sp. SMSA033;SMSA033;SP03123;AN019655;NMVF290226;PID0176630

Join the census

The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.