Baseodiscus jonasii, Strand & Hjelmgren & Sundberg, 2005

Strand, Malin, Hjelmgren, Anna & Sundberg, Per, 2005, Genus Baseodiscus (Nemertea: Heteronemertea): Molecular identification of a new species in a phylogenetic context, Journal of Natural History 39 (44), pp. 3785-3793 : 3792

Baseodiscus jonasii sp. nov.

( Figure 3 ; Table I)

Type material

Holotype: MNHG catalogue number 78, of unknown sex, transverse sections of the anterior end, 18 slides (marked SOL6/1). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the holotype is deposited in Genbank (accession number AY955230 ) . Paratypes: three (marked SOL6/2 (39 slides), SOL6/3 (13 slides), SOL6/4 (20 slides)) of unknown sex, transverse sections of the anterior end and in one specimen (SOL6/2) various mid-body regions.

Type locality

Mendana Reef, Honiara, Solomon Islands. Intertidal, among dead corals on reef flats.

Etymology

The name is dedicated to the finder of the first specimen, Jonas Sundberg.

External features

Length about 60 cm, width about 4 mm, ground colour reddish brown with numerous longitudinal yellowish beige stripes extending full length of body. Head rounded, clearly demarcated from trunk ( Figure 3 ). Eyes not clearly visible in living specimens but can be seen on histological sections, lying beneath epidermis. Mouth situated ventrally, just behind the cerebral ganglia. Proboscis pore subterminal. Cephalic slits absent. Head retracted into trunk upon preservation.

Internal morphology

Indistinguishable from Baseodiscus delineatus ( Table I).

Figures

Figure 3. External view of Baseodiscus jonasii sp. nov. Drawing made by Ray Gibson.