11/5/2012 Nemertea Origin: Greek sea-nymph Nemertes, daughter of Nereus & Doris Nereis of “wise” “unerring" counsel, wisest of 50 sisters Old names: Nemertinea Nemertini Nemertinia Rhynchocoela Common names: ribbon worms proboscis worms Background # Species described: ~1500 Lengths: Steve Trewhella Tubulanus annulatus < 1 mm to 54 meters longest invertebrates Colors: Basiodiscus mexicanus yellow, orange, red & green coloration UNA.edu ODFW 1 11/5/2012 Nemertea Origin: Greek sea-nymph Nemertes, daughter of Nereus & Doris Nereis of “wise” “unerring" counsel, wisest of 50 sisters Old names: Nemertinea NemertiniNemertea Nemertinia Rhynchocoela Nemertea Background Nemertean Feature I. Proboscis hollow organ everting from rhyncochoel to capture prey proboscis capturing prey Ronald L. Shimek Ronald L. Shimek 2 11/5/2012 NemerteanBackground Feature II. Stylets barb at end of proboscis to pierce/puncture prey 50 µm 50 µm 0 5 10 µm Stricker & Cloney 1982 Background III. Venom William Kem early 1970s isolated anabaseine Paranemertes peregrina Nicotinoid alkaloid similar to compounds from tobacco Suntory Whisky similar to venom from 2 ant species (Aphaenogaster spp.) stimulate vertebrate neuromuscular nicotinic receptors cholinergenic transmission synthetic analog DMXBA (GTS-21) memory enhancing effects treating Alzheimer's disease 3 11/5/2012 Nemertean Feature Similarities to Platyhelminthes IV. Protonephridia Differences to Platyhelminthes V. Advanced Circulatory System VI. Complete Gut VII. Rhynochocoelom & Blood Vessels Coelomic Background Taxonomy anoplan Class: Anopla = unarmed (no stylets) Order: Paleonemertea ~100 spp. Order: Heteronemertea ~400 spp. Class: Enopla = armed (stylets) enoplan Order: Bdellonemertea ~ 7 spp. Order: Hoplonemertea ~650 spp. 4 11/5/2012 Ecological Importance marine Ecology:--intertidal-rocks, sand, mudflats --benthic- Antarctica --pelagic fresh water Norbert Wu freshwater 22 spp. Parborlasia corrugatus semi-terrestrial UNA.edu Pantinonemertes sp terrestrial Ng & Sivasothi Geonemertes sp J. Bohne Ecological Importance carnivores: worms, small crustaceans & clams scavengers: feeding on dead organisms commensals: in bivalves/tunicates Malacobdella sp 5 11/5/2012 Ecological Importance ectosymbionts: decapod crustaceans caviar 1 mm Ovicides sp. (Carcinonemertidae): Pacific hydrothermal vent crab Austinograea alayseae Shields & Segonzac 2007 Ecological Importance Host rafting crab, Plagusia immaculata Lamarck 1818 Bay of Panama Torchin 2007 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 6 11/5/2012 From host Callinectes arcuatus (Golfo de Nicoya) From Callinectes arcuatus (Golfo de Nicoya) Costa Rica Carcinonemertes Sheath Eye spots worm egg string Costa Rica Carcinonemertes Stylet 7 11/5/2012 Ecological Importance Host Crabs & Decapods Paralithodes camtschatica (red king crab) C. regicides Chionoectes bairdi (tanner crab) C. regicides Hemigrapsus oregonensis C. epialti Portunus pelagicus C. mitsukurii Callinectes sapidus C. carcinophilia Carcinus maenas C. carcinophilia Loxorynchus grandis Carcinonemertes sp. undescribed Ovalipes trimaculatus Carcinonemertes sp. undescribed Randallia ornatus Carcinonemertes sp. undescribed Chlorodiella nigra & C. xishaensis Ovicides julieace Libinia spinosa C. divae Callinectes danae & C. ornatus C. carcinophila imminuta Hepatus pudibundus C. caissarum Menippe nodifrons C. sebastianensis Austinograea alayseae Ovicides sp. Homarus americanus (American lobster) Pseudocarcinonemertes homari Panilurus cygnus (Australian spiny lobster) C. australiensis Panilurus interruptus (California spiny lobster) C. wickhamni Ecological Importance Host Crabs from Panama Pacific* Bocas del Toro** Euphylax Cataleptodius floridanus Iliacantha Macrocoeloma trispinosum Paraxanthus Mithraculus cinctimanus Portunus Mithraculus forceps Randallia Mithrax caribbaeus Mithrax spinosissimus Panopeus lacustris Pilumnus pannosus *Norenburg 2007 Smithsonian Institution **Santos 2004 Smithsonian Institution 8.