Species ID
OC-SP-0002975
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002975
Provisional Species Name
Tetrastemma sp_SMTM003
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
21/07/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Color pattern distinct from other known congeners. Resembles a co-occurring and closely related species Tetrastemma sp. SMTM041, from which it differs by colour of body, cephalic pigmentation, and COI sequence (4-5% divergence).
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 5-7 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, uniformly cream to pale yellow (some individuals tinted greenish-yellow anteriorly); with four ocelli, anterior pair obscured by a magenta-colored cephalic pigment patch. Magenta patch is flanked posteriorly by a white pigment patch of similar size and shape. Posterior pair of ocelli visible near the posterior margin of the white pigment patch, at the level of cerebral organ furrows, which are oblique and conspicuous. Neck furrow inconspicuous. Bluntly rounded posterior tip marked by a small dark yellow to orange spot in some individuals. Stylet basis truncated, widening distally (skirt-shaped), S/B = 0.5 -0.67. Two accessory stylet sacs with two stylets each.
Ecology
Associated with coral rubble.
Distribution
Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
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