Ramphogordius Sanguineus Class: Anopla, Heteronemertea

Ramphogordius sanguineus Class: Anopla, Heteronemertea

Order:

Taxonomy: The species now known as 1943; Riser 1994). Ramphogordius sanguineus was originally Trunk: described as Planaria sanguinea in 1799 by Posterior: No caudal cirrus. Rathke. It was transferred to the genus Eyes/Eyespots: Three to eight reddish brown Lineus (L. sanguineus) by McIntosh in 1873 ocelli present within both cephalic grooves, and has been synonymized with several lin- but not necessarily in equal numbers on each eid taxa since then, including L. nigricans, L. side (Coe 1943; Riser 1994; Hayward 1995; socialis, L. ruber, L. vegetus and L. pseudo- Roe et al. 2007; Caplins 2011). lactues (Bierne et al. 1993; Riser 1994). Mouth: Ventral and behind the brain and dis- Riser (1994) designated the genus Myoiso- tinct from proboscis pore (order Heteronemer- phagos for L. lacteus, L. pseudolacteus and tea) (Kozloff 1974). L. sanguineus, a genus name which was lat- Proboscis: Eversible (phylum Nemertea) er determined to be invalid and species and, when not everted, coiled inside rhyncho- were reassigned to the genus Ramphogordi- coel (cavity). Proboscis wraps around prey, us (Riser 1998; Runnels 2013). possibly delivering an immobilizing toxin (Caplins 2011) and is also everted when dis- Description turbed. Size: Individuals 0.5–15 cm in length (Roe Tube/Burrow: None. et al. 2007) and 0.5–2 mm in width (Coe 1943; Riser 1994). Possible Misidentifications Color: Smaller individuals tend to be whitish Ramphogordius sanguineus is the on- grey, while larger ones are variously olive, ly member of this genus known to exist locally red, brown, or green (Coe 1943; Riser (Roe et al. 2007). However, the morphology 1994). The brain region is reddish, and the of this species is similar to that of other local posterior end is often paler than the rest of members of the genus Lineus. Lineus ruber the body (Caplins 2011). Color variance is similar in color, but R. sanguineus is more may be attributed to diet (Riser 1994). No slender when stretched, and coils spirally distinct pattern, but pale circumferential rather than contracting linearly when rings may give segmented appearance (Roe disturbed (Roe et al. 2007). Lineus viridis is et al. 2007). also similar in color, but does not coil (Caplins General Morphology: Long and narrow, 2011). Lineus vegetus may be red, green or reddish color and head that is not distinctly brown in color (Kozloff 1974), has faint rings marked from the rest of the body. Common around the body, faint longitudinal lines (ibid), under rocks. and coils. It extends south to Mexico (Corrêa Body: Soft and slender and non-segmented 1964). Lineus pictifrons can be reddish to (phylum Nemertea). Coils rather than con- deep brown with a paler posterior end and is tracts when disturbed (Roe et al. 2007). up to 12 cm in length and 3 mm in width, but Anterior: Head with pale edges and has numerous yellow rings and longitudinal long cephalic grooves along either side (Coe yellow lines, as well as two orange spots on

A publication of the University of Oregon Libraries and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Individual species: https://oimb.uoregon.edu/oregon-estuarine-invertebrates and full 3rd edition: http://hdl.handle.net/1794/18839 Email corrections to: [email protected]

Hiebert, T.C. and M. Hunt 2015. Ramphogordius sanguineus.. In: Oregon Estuarine Invertebrates: Rudys' Illustrated Guide to Common Species, 3rd ed. T.C. Hiebert, B.A. Butler and A.L. Shanks (eds.). University of Oregon Libraries and Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, OR.

the snout (Corrêa 1964). Its range is from es (Riser 1994). Puget Sound to Mexico (ibid). Lineus bi- Temperature: Tolerant of gradual thermal lineatus is dark brown or olive but has a yel- changes (Riser 1994). low or white stripe (ibid). Lineus torquatus is Tidal Level: Intertidal, especially above mid- dark reddish brown or purple with a single intertidal to high marsh tide pools (Roe et al. narrow whitish band connecting the posteri- 2007). or ends of its cephalic furrows. It is intertidal Associates: Frequently found among mus- and occurs from Alaska to San Francisco, sels and oysters, and often with amphipods, California (ibid). Finally, L. flavescens is annelids, and other nemerteans (Coe 1943; small (8–120 mm), yellowish, pale yellow Riser 1994; Caplins 2011). and orange, or ochre with pale head mar- Abundance: Common throughout range. gins and 3–7 irregular red, purple or black Life-History Information ocelli, the largest being most anterior (Roe Reproduction: Asexual by spontaneous frag- et al. 2007). mentation (fissiparous) which is sometimes Because of the many identifying char- instigated by adverse conditions. Regenera- acteristics, which are internal and not visible, tion occurs in fragments containing a portion it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish of the lateral nerve cords (Coe 1930, 1931, among nemerteans without dissecting them. 1943; Riser 1994; Roe et al. 2007). Ways in which the worms flatten, contract, Encystment often occurs, possibly as and coil are useful as aids to identification of protection against predators and parasites live specimens. during regeneration (Coe 1930, 1943), or to Ecological Information enable dispersal by currents (Caplins 2011). Range: Range Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Sexual reproduction has not been North America, Europe and Asia (Coe 1943; conclusively observed, although individuals Riser 1994). Wide distribution likely due to have been collected seemingly ripe with male transport in fouling communities on ships or female gametes (T.Hiebert and Malsakova, (Riser 1994). NE Pacific distribution in- pers. obs). cludes California to Washington State (Roe Larva: Presence of a free-swimming larval et al. 2007). stage is unknown (Caplins 2011). Local Distribution: Coos Bay sites include Juvenile: Hayne’s Inlet, the Charleston boat basin and Longevity: various mudflats along the South Slough as Growth Rate: well as coves of Cape Arago. Food: Carnivorous, feeding on protozoans Habitat: Temperate subtidal and intertidal and other microfauna of lesser or comparable zones under rocks in sand, among rocks ex- size (Van Guelpen 2005). Under laboratory posed to surf, in black mud with algae and conditions individuals will eat dead shrimp, other cover, or in mussel or oyster beds minced clams, polychaetes, and oligochaetes (Coe 1943; Riser 1994; Roe et al 2007; (Roe et al. 2007). Caplins 2011). Also, found on submerged Predators: wood, buoys, and boat bottoms (Riser 1994; Behavior: Tends to coil into a tight spiral Caplins 2011). They frequently occur in when disturbed (Coe 1943; Riser 1994; Roe intertwined clusters of many individuals (Roe et al. 2007). et al. 2007). Bibliography Salinity: Tolerant of gradual salinity chang-

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