Kukumia, Gibson & Sundberg, 2002

Gibson, Ray & Sundberg, Per, 2002, Some heteronemerteans (Nemertea) from the Solomon Islands, Journal of Natural History 36 (15), pp. 1785-1804 : 1791

Genus Kukumia gen. nov.

The genus is identi ed as monophyletic by the supposed synapomorphies of the rhynchocoel circular musculature being partly interwoven with the sub-rhynchocoeli c muscle plate, the presence of upper and lower mid-dorsal nerves, and the way the dermal connective tissues in the anterior body region are formed into concentric layers interwoven with muscle bundles.

Type species Kukumia solomonensis sp. nov.

Etymology

The genus is named after Kukum, the area west of Honiara, Guadalcanal, where the nemertean was found. The speci c epithet indicates that the taxon was rst established from the Solomon Islands .

Diagnosis

Heteronemertea with horizontal lateral cephalic slits; proboscis with two (outer circular, inner longitudinal) muscle layers and two muscle crosses; rhynchocoel not extending to posterior end of body; rhynchocoel wall circular muscle bres ventrally interwoven with longitudinal muscles of sub-rhynchocoelic muscle plate; dorsal brous core of cerebral ganglia forked only at rear into upper and lower branches; upper and lower mid-dorsal nerves present in foregut region of body; blood system around foregut developed into a vascular plexus; nervous system with neither neurochords nor neurochord cells; foregut with subepithelial gland cell layer but without obvious somatic musculature; dermis loosely arranged into outer glandular and inner connective tissue zones; caudal cirrus absent; cephalic glands absent; excretory system situated in foregut region of body; eyes absent; sexual state unknown.