Species ID
OC-SP-0002982
Discovered
Phylum
Nemertea
Species ID
OC-SP-0002982
Provisional Species Name
Tetrastemma sp_SMTM016
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
Resembles an undescribed species from Oman, Tetrastemma sp. SMOM107 (Maslakova et al. 2025, PeerJ 13:e1943), from which it differs by having a small orange pigmented cephalic patch abutting magenta patch. Oman specimen has not been fully studied or preserved (only a photo exists), so is not available for comparison of DNA sequence or stylet morphology.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
08/04/2026
Description of Material
Body 4 mm long, 0.3-1 mm wide, short and stout, uniformly cream-colored, opaque. With four ocelli entirely obscured by a magenta cephalic pigment patch, abutted posteriorly by a narrow orange pigment bar. Cerebral organ furrows are oblique and conspicuous, forming a dorsal posteriorly directed “V” shape. Neck furrow similarly shaped, but less conspicuous. Stylet basis rounded, S/B =1. Two accessory stylet sacs with two stylets each.
Ecology
Associated with coral rubble.
Distribution
Only known from Atauro Island, Timor-Leste.
Scientific Name Authorship
Maslakova, Svetlana
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