Species ID
OC-SP-0002661
Discovered
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Species ID
OC-SP-0002661
Provisional Species Name
Utelga sp_S_1335
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Utelga
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Order
Rhabdocoela
Family
Koinocystididae
Genus
Utelga
Taxonomic Remarks
Utelga sp.3 highly resembles U. henckei because of one of the hooks is much more developed than the other two. However, the two species differ in the detailed morphology of the hooks. First, the largest hook in Utelga sp.3 is needle shaped, whereas it is conical in U. heinckei. The hooks of Utelga sp.3 (12–46 µm) are also much longer than those recorded in U. heinckei (4–14 µm).
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Species of Utelga with three distal hooks in the male copulatory bulb. One of the hooks is much longer than the others, curved and needle shaped, measuring 44–46 µm long (x¯ = 45 µm; n = 2). The other two hooks are symmetric, 12 µm long (n = 4), curved, and with a proximal flap.
Ecology
Fine-grained sand with organic matter, 1.8 m deep, salinity 35 ‰. Hydrozoan colonies and algae on mangrove roots, 0.5 m deep, salinity 35 ‰.
Distribution
United States of America, Florida, Jensen Beach to Jupiter Inlet Aquatic Preserve, 27.199633; -80,174433. United States of America, Florida, Fort Pierce, Little Jim, 27.47345; -80,31249.
Scientific Name Authorship
Diez, Yander L.
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