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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-0002942

Species ID

OC-SP-0002942

Discovered

Phylum

Nemertea

Species ID

OC-SP-0002942

Provisional Species Name

Nipponnemertes sp_SMTM014

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Nipponnemertes

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

Cratenemertidae

Genus

Nipponnemertes

Date Identified

05/08/2025

Taxonomic Remarks

Body shape, ocelli, and stylets are characteristic of other members of the genus. Body colour most resembles that of an undescribed Indo-West Pacific congener from Oman, Nipponnemertes sp. SMOM084 (Maslakova et al. 2025 PeerJ 13e:19438), from which the Timorese species differs in having more eyes, and smooth, as opposed to grooved, stylets. COI sequence >10% divergent from the nearest congener.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

08/04/2026

Description of Material

Body 8-15 mm long, 0.4-1 mm wide, short and stout, dorso-ventrally flattened, semi-translucent, cream-colored to pale yellowish, orangish, or reddish, with numerous small, opaque, white specks over the background colour; dorsal side somewhat deeper coloured than ventral; some individuals with darker irregular pale brownish streaks or speckling over background colour; cephalic lobe bluntly rounded, in some specimens with a narrow longitudinal mid-dorsal stripe of paler colour; cerebral organ furrows equipped with secondary furrows; neck furrow inconspicuous. Up to 40 relatively large ocelli, arranged in two irregular rows along each side of head, and, additionally, two small groups of ocelli directly in front of semi-translucent cerebral ganglia. Stylet basis oval, often slightly asymmetrical; S/B = 1.25-1.5. Two accessory stylet sacs with 3-8 stylets each.

Ecology

Associated with coral rubble.

Distribution

Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.

Scientific Name Authorship

Maslakova, Svetlana

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