Species ID
OC-SP-0002974
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002974
Provisional Species Name
Tetrastemma sp_SMTM002
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Tetrastemma
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
Tetrastemmatidae
Genus
Tetrastemma
Date Identified
11/07/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Resembles and is closely related to an undescribed species Tetrastemma sp. SMGM005 found on Guam (coll. By S.A. Maslakova in 2024), from which it differs by having less cephalic pigmentation (narrower band), having three as opposed to two accessory stylet pouches, as well as COI sequences (~6% p-distance). Another look-alike, Tetrastemma sp. JLN785 collected by S. A. Maslakova at Orpheus and Pelorus Islands in 2003 and reported by Chernyshev et al. (2021, DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12511) as Tetrastemma sp. 3A5 and 2B5 occurs in NE Australia (~10% p-distance). Morphologically resembles another species from Timor, Tetrastemma sp. SMTM010, from which it differs by the shape of stylet basis (truncated vs. rounded).
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 1-2 cm long, 0.4-0.5 mm wide, cream-colored, semi-transparent; with four ocelli, anterior pair partly masked by an orange crescent-shaped cephalic pigment patch. Neck furrow inconspicuous, cerebral organ furrows prominent, oblique, at level of posterior pair of ocelli. Basis of central stylet skirt-shaped, truncated, wider at proximal end. Stylet to basis (S:B) ratio = 1.3. Three accessory stylet pouches, each with 2 stylets. Sexually mature female observed in March, 2025.
Ecology
Associated with coral rubble.
Distribution
Only known from Dili, Timor-Leste.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
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