Ritger, R. K.; Norenburg, J. L. (2006). Tubulanus riceae new species (Nemertea: Anopla: Palaeonemertea: Tubulanidae), from south Florida, Belize and Panama. Journal of Natural History, 40(15-16): 931-942
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Ritger, R. K.; Norenburg, J. L.
2006
Tubulanus riceae new species (Nemertea: Anopla: Palaeonemertea: Tubulanidae), from south Florida, Belize and Panama
Journal of Natural History
40(15-16): 931-942
Publication
Available for editors
Specimens of Tubulanus riceae new species (Nemertea: Palaeonemertea) were collected from a Phragmatopoma worm reef in the surf zone at Fort Pierce ( Florida, USA) and from sublittoral rubble at Carrie Bow Cay ( Belize) and Bocas del Toro ( Panama). They have well-developed lateral sensory organs, form a cellophane-like tube and appear to have ocelli-like structures. The latter, if confirmed as ocelli, would be the first reported for a tubulanid. The new species is characterized by a unique color pattern, resembling that of Tubulanus rhabdotus, but it is distinctive in its milky-tan ground color with annular bands of brown pigment bounded by white margins and in having up to six to eight dorsal, longitudinal, but broken, reflective white stripes.