Species ID
OC-SP-0002978
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002978
Provisional Species Name
Tetrastemma sp_SMTM011
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Tetrastemma
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
Tetrastemmatidae
Genus
Tetrastemma
Date Identified
23/07/2025
Taxonomic Remarks
Part of an Indo-West Pacific cryptic species complex of transparent Tetrastemma spp. with pink-tinged proboscis and rounded basis of central stylet (including Tetrastemma sp. SMRS007 from the Red Sea, Tetrastemma sp. SMGM006 and Tetrastemma sp. SMGM020 from Guam, an undescribed species from Australia, a locally co-occurring species, Tetrastemma sp. SMTM012, and another potentially new locally co-occurring species). COI sequence 8-9% divergent from the nearest congener.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 8-20 mm long, 0.3-0.5 mm wide, translucent, with opaque, pink-tinged anterior proboscis, clearly showing through the body wall; with four small ocelli, distance between the anterior pair and posterior pairs longer than the distance between the two ocelli in each pair. Some individuals with an opaque white anterior patch in front and in between the anterior pair of ocelli; others lack it, yet in some it is divided into two smaller patches (Figs. 1, 3-5). Cerebral organ furrows are oblique and conspicuous – slanted posteriorly from ventral to dorsal, almost encircling the body, forming an anteriorly directed “V” ventrally, and a posteriorly directed “V” dorsally. Cerebral organ furrows cross over the posterior pair of ocelli and extend further posteriad toward the dorsal midline. Neck furrow inconspicuous. Bluntly rounded posterior tip in some individuals is marked by a small opaque white spot. Stylet basis distally rounded, S/B = 0.73-0.79. Two accessory stylet sacs with 2-3 stylets each. Sexually mature individuals (males and females) observed in February-March, 2025. Oocytes white.
Ecology
Associated with coral rubble.
Distribution
Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
Specimens
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3664
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3665
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3666
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3667
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3323
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3369
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Primary Voucher
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3011
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3141
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Additional Material
No Image yet…
SMGPTM_BOIMB-3208
Family
Tetrastemmatidae
Join the census
The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.
