Cape Patterson - main platform;31 - Nemertea;BQCAB0030;MRG882-11;Notospermus sp. SMSA074;SMSA074;SP02306;AN019354;NMVF290273;PID0172372
Species ID
OC-SP-0002944
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002944
Provisional Species Name
Notospermus sp_SMSA074
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Notospermus
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
Notospermus
Date Identified
21/01/2026
Taxonomic Remarks
Belongs to the Notospermus geniculatus cryptic species complex, which is found globally in warm waters. Present species is most closely related to the true N. geniculatus (per Kajihara et al. 2022; BOLD BIN AEB6981, e.g. see COI Accession MH714705 from Jiang and Deng, 2018), and another local undescribed species, Notospermus sp. SMSA075, but can be distinguished from those by having only a single white band on the cephalic lobe, as opposed to multiple transverse white bands in the anterior portion of body, as well as COI sequence data (8% divergent from N. geniculatus from the Mediterranean, and 13% divergent from the local Notospermus sp. SMSA075).
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 225 mm long, up to 1 cm wide, dorso-ventrally flattened and widest in the midgut region, more cylindrical and slender in the foregut region, without a caudal cirrus. Body colour uniform taupe or dark hazel brown dorsally and ventrally, except for the white head margin and a single narrow white band on the cephalic lobe 2/3rds of the way from the anterior tip of head to posterior end of cephalic slits. This band has a forward-pointing mid-dorsal peak. Cephalic lobe subrectangular, about twice as long as it is wide. Red cerebral ganglia visible through body wall and lateral slits. A row of 4 small ocelli found along the white upper margin of cephalic slits on each side of head.
Ecology
Found on rocky reef with weed filled rock pools and loose stones in the intertidal zone.
Distribution
Currently only known from Cape Patterson, Victoria, Australia.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
Cape Patterson - main platform;31 - Nemertea;BQCAB0030;MRG882-11;Notospermus sp. SMSA074;SMSA074;SP02306;AN019354;NMVF290273;PID0172372
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