Species ID
OC-SP-0002934
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002934
Provisional Species Name
Micrurides sp_SMTM030
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Micrurides
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
Pilidiophora
Order
Heteronemertea
Family
Lineidae
Genus
Micrurides
Date Identified
28/08/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Forms a cryptic species complex with co-occurring Micrurides spp. SMTM029 and SMTM031, from which it can be distinguished by COI sequence data. The clade also includes a morphologically similar undescribed species from Oman, Lineidae sp. SMOM073 (Maslakova et al. 2025 PeerJ 13e:19438). The clade is tentatively affiliated with Micrurides based on the preliminary phylogenetic analyses, and presence of the transverse cephalic furrows. Micrurides sp. SMTM030 potentially comprises a pair of sibling species, with individuals UF1671 and UF1678 forming a separate BOLD BIN from UF1611 and UF1683, with ~5% COI divergence between the two BINs, and a subtle colour difference (lemon-yellow vs. orange-tinged). Most closely related to Micrurides Micrurides sp. SMTM031, from which it differs by COI sequence divergence of 8-9%.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body up to 15 mm long, 0.3-1 mm wide; slender when stretched out, gradually tapering toward a short caudal cirrus; background colour dilute lemon-yellow to dilute orange, darker dorsally, especially on cephalic lobe, in some individuals gradually fading to flesh colour toward the posterior. Cephalic lobe about three times as long as it is wide, shaped as a rounded rectangle, with a band of opaque white at anterior tip. Width of white band varies, reaching up to about 1/5th of the length of cephalic slits. Cephalic margins translucent. Inconspicuous transverse furrows present at posterior margin of lateral cephalic slits. Ocelli lacking.
Ecology
Associated with coral rubble.
Distribution
Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
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