Port Fairy Abalone Farm;31 - Nemertea;BQBAB0010;MRG885-05;Cephalothrix sp. SMSA097;SMSA097;SP02341;AN019649;NMVF290022;PID0176334
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Species ID
OC-SP-0002902
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002902
Provisional Species Name
Cephalothrix sp_SMSA097
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Cephalothrix
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
Palaeonemertea
Order
Archinemertea
Family
Cephalotrichidae
Genus
Cephalothrix
Date Identified
31/12/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Most known species of Cephalothrix (58 accepted and many more undescribed) look alike and can only be reliably differentiated by DNA sequence data. Resembles and is most closely related to Cephalothrix hermaphroditica, and another undescribed local species, Cephalothrix sp. SMSA061. Not to be confused with a locally introduced and highly toxic species, Cephalothrix simula, which has a greenish tinge.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 690 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, thread-like; pastel orange, or brownish-orange (due to color of gut contents). Cephalic lobe twice as long as it is wide, without ocelli or cerebral organ furrows, anterior tip tinged with brighter orange.
Ecology
Intertidal
Distribution
Only known from Port Fairy (Abalone Farm, central part of reef) in Victoria, Australia
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
Port Fairy Abalone Farm;31 - Nemertea;BQBAB0010;MRG885-05;Cephalothrix sp. SMSA097;SMSA097;SP02341;AN019649;NMVF290022;PID0176334
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