<i>Tubulanus Riceae</i> New Species (Nemertea: Anopla: Palaeonemertea: Tubulanidae), From South Florida, Belize and Panamá

Abstract

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.