DSCF5253_1.jpg "Tubulanus annulatus (Banded ribbonworm)")
| Species | Tubulanus annulatus |
| Common Name | Banded ribbonworm |
| Photgrapher | Glenn Jacoby |
| Dive Site | PE-AB)-Phillips Reef |
| Date | 2013-09-07 |
| Depth | 14 m |
| Size | 500mm |
From: georgina jones
To: EasternCapeScubaDiving
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2013 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Ribbon worm ID
Hi Johan...
well, not having found your ribbon worm in Two Oceans, I asked George Branch and Charles Griffiths and they both think it looks most like a European species called Tubulanus annulatus .. but it's never been seen here before so they'd be quite keen on getting a specimen if that's possible... how often do you see them?
best wishes
Georgina
On 29 September 2013 12:20, EasternCapeScubaDiving wrote:
Hi Georgina
Can you perhaps help me to id this worm
I think it is a ribbon worm
Length +/- 500mm
Width +/- 5 mm
Depth 14.7 m
Place Port Elizabeth
At first it was short but as it move it just got longer and longer
Thanks for all your help during the years
Regards
Johan
Hi Johan,
This appears to be Tubulanus sp., a Palaeonemertea. A nice specimen! Tubulanus annulatus has been attributed to the SA fauna. It is similar in ground color and in having white rings encircling the body but I my best guess is that this is not that species, which so far always has 3 longitudinal white lines. I can detect only 2, apparently lateral, longitudinal lines in your specimen. It could be a regional variant or an undescribed species (or even a Heteronemertea; the rings are reminiscent of a couple of genera of heteronemertean but associated with longitudinal stripes is not; but I can't see enough detail of the head to be sure).
Best wishes,
Jon
Dr. Jon L. Norenburg
Chairman/Research Zoologist
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC 20560-0163
Tel 202-633-1783
Hi Jon
Attached photos of the worm
These was cropped from the originals
The original might be to big to email
More detail
Place : Port Elizabeth : South Africa
Length: aprox 400-500mm
Width : aprox 5mm
Depth : 14.3m
Time : 9.40 am
Water temp : 19 C
Thanks for your help
Regards
Johan
Hi Johan,
My first instinct is "Tetrastemma", which is a huge convenience trashcan
of hoplonemertean species that probably represents several closely but
also distantly related genera. Please do send me some higher resolution
pictures.
Jon
Dr. Jon L. Norenburg
Chairman/Research Zoologist
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC 20560-0163
Tel 202-633-1783
http://nemertea.myspecies.info/contact/1.
Hi
We are a group of scuba divers that enjoy underwater photography
Have a look at our site at
http://www.easterncapescubadiving.co.za/index.php?page_name=home
On a recent dive me and my buddy photographed a ribbon worm and have no
idea how to id it
I would like to mail you the photographs in the hope that you can help us
or put us on the right track to id it
Regards
Johan
