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Nipponnemertes pulcher

Nipponnemertes pulcher

Flaming ribbon worm

   Nipponnemertes pulcher is a nemertean of 9 cm long and 5 to 6 mm wide. The body is worm-like, slightly flattened, of a colour varying from orange to bright red or brown. The ventral side is paler. The head is round, laterally lobate with a central longitudinal ridge and numerous eyes on each side of it. The ridge continues dorsally a little behind the head and ends where two transverse furrows fuse in a backward V-shape. The ventral size also possesses fusing transverse furrows with forwards secondary ridges. The body is tapper-ended. It is covered in numerous tiny cilia which are used for locomotion. Flaming ribbon worm is carnivorous and feeds on small invertebrates. It lives on sand, gravel, or rocks between 5 and 570 meters deep.
Nipponnemertes pulcher is found in the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, West-Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea. It is also reported along the North-American East coasts from Canada to florida.

Classification

 (source : European Register of Marine Species)

  • Nemertina [Phylum]
  • Anopla [Class]
  • Hoplonemertini [Subclass]
  • Monostilifera [Superorder]
  • Hoplonemertea [Order]
  • Cratenemertidae [Family]
  • Nipponnemertes pulcher (Johnston, 1837)

Page glossary


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Authors


Top photograph :
© Jean-Michel Crouzet. Published with author's kind permission :
Nipponnemertes pulcher, Ile de Groix, South-Britanny, West of France. Depth 10 meters.
Text :  Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2010.
Translation :  Anne Bay-Nouailhat © 2007-2010.

How to cite this page in publications


Bay-Nouailhat A., December 2007, Description of Nipponnemertes pulcher, Available on line at http://www.european-marine-life.org/13/nipponnemertes-pulcher.php, consulted on 09 February 2010.
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