A Global Mission

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-0002949

Species ID

OC-SP-0002949

Discovered

Phylum

Nemertea

Species ID

OC-SP-0002949

Provisional Species Name

Oerstediidae sp_SMTM017

Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS

Oerstediidae

Lowest Known Rank

Family

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

Oerstediidae

Date Identified

24/07/2025

Taxonomic Remarks

Body shape, reduced cephalic furrows, and short rhynchocoel suggest, and COI sequence confirms the species belongs to the eumonostiliferan infraorder Oerstediina, and likely family Oerstediidae, but it does not resemble any described genera.

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

08/04/2026

Description of Material

Body 12 mm long, 0.25-0.3 mm wide, relatively slender, white, semi-translucent. Cream-colored gut shows through the body wall. With faint pale brown interrupted and irregular dorsal longitudinal streaks on cephalic lobe. Cephalic lobe not wider than adjacent body, with cerebral organ furrows reduced to small ventral arches, not visible in dorsal view. A short row of few small ocelli visible on each side of head. Neck furrow absent or inconspicuous. Rhynchocoel restricted to anterior 1/3 of body length. Stylet basis cylindrical, distally truncated, widest approximately 2/3rds of the distance from distal to proximal end. S/B =0.62. Two accessory stylet sacs with 1-2 stylets each.

Ecology

Associated with coral rubble.

Distribution

Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.

Scientific Name Authorship

Maslakova, Svetlana

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