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305:. A nemertean is generally recognized in the field by the way it moves. Its normal movement is gliding over the surface by help of cilia on the ventral side in combination with mucus produced by the worm. Some species may, under certain circumstances, swim with undulating movements, but only for a short period of time. Enoplans are differentiated by the proboscis, which is armed (i.e., there is a stylet attached to it) in enoplans but unarmed in anoplans. Enoplans have a common opening for the proboscis and mouth, whereas anoplans have separate openings for the two structures.
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341:. While larger species may be found simply by turning over boulders, smaller species are not found unless special techniques are utilized. An easy way of collecting nemerteans is to place seaweed and smaller algae in a bucket of sea water and let it stand for a few hours, and up to a couple of days, depending on weather and temperature. The worms will crawl to the sides of the bucket, where they are easily observed and collected, as the
276:. The encompasses those animals with a proboscis armature consisting of a single central stylet on a large cylindrical basis. The Polystilifera are armed with a pad, or shield, bearing numerous small stylets. The Polystilifera are further divided in two taxa, one (Pelagica) containing the pelagic species, and the other (Reptantia) with crawling or burrowing forms.
417:. The proboscis is everted and the central armature (the stylet) is used to pierce and immobilize the prey. After inversion of the proboscis, the worm uses its head to probe among the crustacean appendages, seeking a place where it can penetrate the prey; eventually, the head is wedged past the opening and the
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There is very little direct significance of nemertean worms to humans. Some species in the family
Carcinonemertidae are egg parasites of commercially important species of crustaceans, but the overall economic effect of nemertean parasites is small. Also, many nemerteans produce toxins of which some
353:, but there are approximately 100 named and described species of pelagic nemerteans. These creatures inhabit the water column of the world oceans, commonly found at depths of between a few hundred feet and several thousand feet, and they are most abundant at 2,130 to 8,200 ft (625 to 2,500 m).
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Although nemerteans are abundant, especially in temperate waters, their presence is often overlooked because they are not easily observed. Enoplan nemerteans do not appear to be equally common sublittorally, but this may be a result of biased sampling (less accessible environments). The majority of
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Enoplan nemerteans are generally small, from less than 1 centimetre (0.4 in) up to 10 centimetres (4 in), although larger species exist. While most nemerteans are rather drab in color, others are more conspicuous with striking pigment patterns and coloration. However, the more brightly
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enzymes are inserted through the stylet-produced hole in the exoskeloton—histology of central armature suggests this — but at some stage, enzymes are injected to dissolve the prey's body tissue. Free-living marine suctorial nemerteans appear to be food specialists feeding primarily on
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contain 230 species, i.e., one third of all named species in the class. However, it must be made very clear that the systematics and classification of nemerteans are not based on a phylogenetic approach, and recent studies question the classification.
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nemerteans; a typical feature of these species is that their distribution tends to be restricted to a particular island. These species live in damp places under stones and in rotting wood.
245:. The enoplan nemerteans have been regarded as highly derived based on a more complicated muscle arrangement in the body wall and a more complex nervous system. However, whether this is a
765:
Strand, Malin et al (2019) "Nemertean taxonomy-Implementing changes in the higher ranks, dismissing Anopla and Enopla" Zoologica
Scripta Vol. 48, nr 1, s. 118-119 DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12317
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are nicotinic agonists. Some of these toxins, originally found in a nemertean, have been synthesized and tested in pre-clinical trials as a possible memory enhancer in the treatment of
442:. There are also examples of macrophagus hoplonemerteans that engulf the entire prey after paralyzing it with a blow by the stylet. Freshwater hoplonemerteans are known to feed on
700:
Sundberg, Per; McClintock, Turbeville J. & Lindh, Susanne (2001): Phylogenetic
Relationships among Higher Nemertean (Nemertea) Taxa Inferred from 18S rDNA Sequences.
912:
677:
Sundberg, Per; Gibson, Ray; & Berg, Gunnar (1988): Recent
Advances in Nemertean Biology: Proceedings of the Second International Meeting on Nemertean Biology.
446:, unicellular organisms, insect larvae, and other crustaceans. Very little is known about the ecology of pelagic nemerteans, including diet and feeding behavior.
654:
Gibson, Ray; Moore, Janet & Sundberg, Per (eds.) (1993): Advances in
Nemertean Biology: Proceedings of the Third International Meeting on Nemertean Biology.
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497:, i.e., produce eggs that are laid and hatched externally. Mode of spawning is unknown for most species, but where known, it ranges from widespread release of
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Very little is known about nemertean ecology, distribution, or abundance. It is clear, however, that certain species are the most abundant
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from the mantle cavity. Obviously, the proboscis is not used to capture prey and has been (perhaps secondarily) reduced in these species.
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The class is currently divided into 30 families and 155 genera with approximately 650 described species. The two largest genera,
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regions, although there are few more widespread species. Freshwater species are also reported from all continents, except the
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Nemerteans are common predators in a variety of habitats. Benthic marine enoplans are suctorial feeders and prey mainly on
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Enoplan nemerteans are known from all continents and all seas. Terrestrial nemerteans are mainly known from islands in the
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show that
Bdellonemertea should be included in Hoplonemertea. Hoplonemertea (in the old sense) contains two suborders,
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529:
598:
Wickham, Daniel E. 1986. Epizootic
Infestations by Nemertean Brood Parasites on Commercially Important Crustaceans.
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390:. The spreading of these animals is probably a result of the exportation and importation of freshwater vegetation.
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group in some habitats/localities. Whether other species are threatened is almost impossible to say, but the 1996
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Thollesson, Mikael and
Norenburg, Jon L. (2003): Ribbon Worm Relationships: A Phylogeny of the Phylum Nemertea.
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with eggs attached in a gelatinous matrix to a benthic substratum. A few species bear living young.
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is extremely sparse, as would be expected from a soft-bodied animal. The
Cambrian fossil,
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character is not clear, and recent molecular studies are inconclusive in this respect.
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Gibson, Ray (2002): The
Invertebrate Fauna of New Zealand: Nemertea (Ribbon Worms).
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There are a few freshwater species recorded, of which most are placed in the genus
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362:. This genus is also by far the most widespread, especially the two species,
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493:, although there are a few hermaphroditic hoplonemerteans. Most species are
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ribbon worms; however, this interpretation is disputed by many
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Enoplan nemerteans are typically found in the sea, in the
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gut is everted into the opening. It is uncertain whether
661:. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht. Reprinted from
430:. There are some enoplan species known to feed upon
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405:Most nemerteans are solitary, free-living animals.
256:Class Enopla used to be divided in two subclasses,
684:Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht. Reprinted from
600:Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
521:includes six terrestrial nemerteans. Two species (
465:. There are also commensal enoplans (in family
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264:, but recent phylogenetic analyses based on
301:colored forms are more common in the class
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623:Gibson, Ray (1994): Nemerteans (2nd ed.).
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85:Learn how and when to remove this message
620:. Hutchinson University Library, London.
457:) found among the egg masses of certain
48:This article includes a list of general
569:Jon Norenburg (2011). R. Gibson (ed.).
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345:concentration decreases in the water.
703:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
23:, a clade of nematodes or roundworms.
16:Class of worms of the phylum Nemertea
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954:c67a6a55-60be-480b-804d-2a45b46d64e2
879:13a974f2-f61b-4ef7-963e-0135f86bda18
374:. The latter has been recorded from
349:enoplan ribbon worms are marine and
519:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
734:Proceedings of the Royal Society B
54:it lacks sufficient corresponding
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533:) are considered Threatened, and
579:World Register of Marine Species
530:Katechonemertes nightingaleensis
461:species that feed on the host's
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393:There are 13 known species of
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626:Synopses of the British Fauna
27:For a group of Nemertea, see
679:Developments in Hydrobiology
656:Developments in Hydrobiology
501:into surrounding waters, to
453:enoplan nemerteans (family
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646:NIWA Biodiversity Memoirs
223:Evolution and systematics
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125:Scientific classification
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524:Antiponemertes allisonae
409:Feeding ecology and diet
296:Physical characteristics
19:Not to be confused with
575:World Nemertea database
69:more precise citations.
747:10.1098/rspb.2002.2254
716:10.1006/mpev.2001.0982
543:Significance to humans
449:There is one group of
116:Terrestrial nemertean
874:Fauna Europaea (new)
616:Gibson, Ray (1972):
539:as Near Threatened.
489:Most nemerteans are
485:Reproductive biology
266:nucleotide sequences
550:Alzheimer's disease
536:Argonemertes hillii
509:Conservation status
477:where they feed on
469:) that live in the
371:Prostoma graecense
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962:Open Tree of Life
775:Taxon identifiers
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740:(1531): 407–415.
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365:Prostoma eilhardi
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582:. Retrieved
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807:Wikispecies
440:polychaetes
423:proteolytic
415:crustaceans
395:terrestrial
319:subtropical
288:Tetrastemma
118:Geonemertes
67:introducing
618:Nemerteans
556:References
282:Amphiporus
251:apomorphic
229:nemerteans
185:Subgroups
50:references
495:oviparous
491:dioecious
451:parasitic
432:barnacles
428:amphipods
388:Australia
323:Antarctic
217:proboscis
148:Kingdom:
142:Eukaryota
75:June 2011
997:Category
792:Wikidata
754:12639321
723:11527461
571:"Enopla"
479:plankton
475:bivalves
419:anterior
401:Behavior
359:Prostoma
335:littoral
315:tropical
234:Amiskwia
213:Nemertea
192:See text
177:Schultze
162:Nemertea
158:Phylum:
152:Animalia
138:Domain:
798:Q275879
670:(1–3).
651:: 1–87.
584:June 2,
499:gametes
463:embryos
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351:benthic
329:Habitat
239:pelagic
206:classes
168:Class:
102:Enopla
63:improve
21:Enoplea
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951:NZOR:
827:Enopla
813:Enopla
783:Enopla
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471:mantle
438:, and
386:, and
380:Africa
376:Europe
343:oxygen
337:among
303:Anopla
210:phylum
202:Enopla
172:Enopla
52:, but
29:Anopla
975:WoRMS
931:57490
913:IRMNG
905:51281
866:16155
693:(1).
384:Japan
339:algae
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939:NCBI
926:ITIS
918:1292
887:GBIF
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835:BOLD
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635:ISBN
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