Anglesea - Urquhart's Bluff;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0050;MRG932-09;Zygonemertes sp. SMSA051;SMSA051;SP03532;AN022352;NMVF290404;PID0248635
Species ID
OC-SP-0002987
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002987
Provisional Species Name
Zygonemertes sp_SMSA051
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
26/01/2026
Taxonomic Remarks
There are several cryptic nearly colorless species of Zygonemertes that lack post-cerebral ocelli in southeast Australia which are difficult to separate. SMSA051 can be distinguished from other similar local species (SMSA048, SMSA049, SMSA050, SMSA052, SMSA058, SMSA067) by the distinct pink brain, open coast habitat, and by COI sequence data.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 23 – 55 mm long, 0.4 – 0.8 mm wide, threadlike, semi-translucent. Background colour uniform light gold, but some individuals can appear pastel indigo on a dark background due to body’s translucency. Cephalic lobe wider than adjacent body region, twice as long as it is wide, separated from body by neck furrow. Oblique cerebral organ furrows visible dorsally and ventrally. Pink cerebral ganglia conspicuously show through body wall. Multiple ocelli on each side of the head, not in clearly defined rows, none posterior to cerebral ganglia. Epidermal sickle-like inclusions present. Posterior tip rounded. Stylet basis skirt shaped, with variable widening at its distal truncated and shallowly crenulated end and variable constriction anterior to the distal end. S/B = 0.7 – 0.9, two or three accessory stylet sacs with 2 – 4 stylets in each.
Ecology
Found on coralline algae and Caulerpa brownii in the intertidal zone on open coast.
Distribution
Rye to Portland, Victoria, Australia
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
Anglesea - Urquhart's Bluff;31 - Nemertea;BQDAF0050;MRG932-09;Zygonemertes sp. SMSA051;SMSA051;SP03532;AN022352;NMVF290404;PID0248635
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