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-0002983

Species ID

OC-SP-0002983

Discovered

Phylum

Nemertea

Species ID

OC-SP-0002983

Provisional Species Name

Tetrastemma sp_SMTM041

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

21/07/2025

Taxonomic Remarks

Morphologically distinct from other congeners. Resembles a co-occurring and closely related species Tetrastemma sp. SMTM003, from which it differs by color of body, cephalic pigmentation and COI sequence (4-5% divergence).

Received All Minimal Data for Discovery

08/04/2026

Description of Material

Body 5 mm long, 0.25-0.3 mm wide, pale yellow with a greenish tinge anteriorly; with four ocelli, anterior pair obscured by a reddish-brown cephalic pigment patch, overlaying a narrower longitudinal strip of greenish-yellow pigmentation on dorsal surface of cephalic lobe and adjacent body region. Posterior pair of ocelli visible at the level of cerebral organ furrows, which are oblique and conspicuous. Neck furrow inconspicuous. Bluntly rounded posterior tip marked by a small orange spot. Stylet basis truncated, widening distally (skirt-shaped), S/B =0.67. 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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The Ocean Census Alliance unites national and philanthropic marine institutes, museums, and universities, backed by governments, philanthropy, business and civil society partners.