Geonemertes pelaensis

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Geonemertes pelaensis
Video file: Geonemertes pelaensis killing a spider. Observe proboscis at end of movie.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nemertea
Class: Hoplonemertea
Order: Monostilifera
Family: Prosorhochmidae
Genus: Geonemertes
Species:
G. pelaensis
Binomial name
Geonemertes pelaensis
Semper, 1863
Synonyms
  • Geonemertes arboricolaPunnett, 1907
  • Geonemertes vinsoniMoore in Pantin, 1969

Geonemertes pelaensis is a species of terrestrial Nemertea. [1] Superficially, Geonemertes pelaensis resembles a land flatworm (family Geoplanidae) and lives in the same habitat, but it has an anterior exertile proboscis, whereas flatworms have a pharynx located in their ventral side at midlength of body. The number of eyes this nemertean can have varies between 4 and 8 ocelli. [2]

Contents

It is commonly found on islands in the Indo-Pacific, and has been anthropogenically introduced to Caribbean islands [3] and Florida. [4] Geonemertes pelaensis is a known predator of gastropoda in the wild, and isopoda, and amphipoda in laboratory settings. [5]

Molecular characterization

The complete mitochondrial genome of Geonemertes pelaensis was sequenced from specimens collected in Martinique and New Caledonia [6] . The mitogenome was unusually large, nearly 32 kb, and contained 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 21 tRNA genes. The two genomes were almost identical, differing by only a few mutations, indicating low genetic diversity. This conservation suggests a recent introduction from closely related source populations. The exceptional genome length was mainly due to long intergenic regions and expanded tRNA clusters. Several nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (NUMTs) were detected, which may complicate genetic analyses. Gut content sequencing also revealed prey DNA, (a cockroach for the specimen from Martinique, and a moth for the specimen from New Caledonia) demonstrating the ecological value of molecular approaches. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Norenburg, J.; Gibson, R.; Herrera Bachiller, A.; Strand, M. (2021). World Nemertea Database. Geonemertes pelaensis Semper, 1863. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=597681 on 2022-02-01
  2. ↑ Gibson, Ray; Moore, Janet (1997). "Further observations on the genus Geonemertes with a description of a new species from the Philippine Islands" . Hydrobiologia. 365 (1/3): 157–171. doi:10.1023/A:1003199031726. S2CID   19381243 . Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  3. ↑ Jones, Hugh D.; Sterrer, Wolfgang (2005-05-30). "Terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, with three new species) and nemertines of Bermuda". Zootaxa. 1001 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1001.1.3. ISSN   1175-5334.
  4. ↑ Moore, Janet (1985). "The Distribution and Evolution of Terrestrial Nemertines". American Zoologist. 25 (1). Oxford University Press (OUP): 15–21. doi: 10.1093/icb/25.1.15 . ISSN   0003-1569.
  5. ↑ Shinobe, Shotaro; Uchida, Shota; Mori, Hideaki; Okochi, Isamu; Chiba, Satoshi (2017-09-29). "Declining soil Crustacea in a World Heritage Site caused by land nemertean". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 12400. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12653-4 . ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5622052 . PMID   28963523.
  6. 1 2 Gastineau, Romain; Coulis, Mathieu; Otis, Christian; Boyle, Brian; Lemieux, Claude; Turmel, Monique; Mohammadi, Sima; Lévesque, Roger C.; Herbert, David G.; Páll-Gergely, Barna; Richling, Ira; Winsor, Leigh; Justine, Jean-Lou (2026-01-22). "Molecular characterisation of the invasive terrestrial nemertean Geonemertes pelaensis: long and complex mitogenome and presence of NUMTs". Scientific Reports. 16 (1): 3312. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-33230-0 . ISSN   2045-2322.


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