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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-0002985

Rye No. 16 Beach;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0050;MRG900-24;Zygonemertes sp. SMSA049;SMSA049;SP03392;AN020922;NMVF290255;PID0197357

Species ID

OC-SP-0002985

Discovered

Phylum

Nemertea

Species ID

OC-SP-0002985

Provisional Species Name

Zygonemertes sp_SMSA049

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Zygonemertes

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

Zygonemertidae

Genus

Zygonemertes

Date Identified

23/01/2026

Taxonomic Remarks

There are several cryptic nearly colorless species of Zygonemertes lacking post-cerebral ocelli in southeast Australia which are difficult to separate. Zygonemertes sp. SMSA049 can be distinguished from other similar local species (SMSA048, SMSA049, SMSA050, SMSA051, SMSA052, SMSA058, SMSA067) by its unusually long central stylet compared to the length of basis, and by COI sequence data.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

08/04/2026

Description of Material

Body 11 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, threadlike, translucent, uniformly cream-colored. Cephalic lobe wider than adjacent body region, twice as long as wide, separated from body by neck furrow. Oblique cerebral organ furrows visible dorsally and ventrally. Multiple ocelli (21-25 per side) scattered over each side of head, not forming rows, none posterior to cerebral ganglia, which are colorless. Epidermal sickle-like inclusions present. Posterior tip pointed. Rhynchocoel extends to posterior tip of body. Stylet basis skirt shaped, with a slight constriction anterior to the distal end, widest at its distal truncated end. S/B = 1.7, two accessory stylet sacs with 3 stylets in each.

Ecology

Found in coralline algae in the intertidal zone.

Distribution

Rye No 16 Beach, Victoria

Scientific Name Authorship

Maslakova, Svetlana

Rye No. 16 Beach;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0050;MRG900-24;Zygonemertes sp. SMSA049;SMSA049;SP03392;AN020922;NMVF290255;PID0197357

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.