Vulcanonemertes, Gibson, Ray & Strand, Malin, 2002

Gibson, Ray & Strand, Malin, 2002, A new genus and species of monostiliferous hoplonemertean (Enopla: Hoplonemertea: Monostilifera) from New Zealand, Zootaxa 50, pp. 1-20 : 2-3

Genus: Vulcanonemertes gen. nov.

Etymology: The type locality, being a dormant volcano, is reflected in the generic name, Vulcanonemertes , which is derived from the Latin Vulcan (the fire god).

Generic diagnosis: Monostiliferous marine hoplonemerteans with rhynchocoel extending into posterior half of body but not reaching posterior end, with wall containing two distinct muscle layers; anterior region of proboscis with three muscle layers (outer circular, middle longitudinal, inner circular), proboscis armature consisting of single central stylet and 2­5 accessory stylet pouches; body­wall musculature well developed, with diagonal layer, weak inner circular layer, longitudinal layer anteriorly divided; pre­cerebral septum absent; apical organ present; cephalic glands well developed, extending far back into foregut region of body on lateral margins; submuscular glands confined to pre­cerebral region; cerebral sensory organs far anterior, opening via pair of short, horizontal cephalic furrows; cerebral ganglia with neither neurochord cells nor inner neurilemma; lateral nerve cords with accessory lateral nerve extending full length of body; foregut opening into rhynchodaeum, divisible into oesophagus, stomach and pyloric regions, intestinal caecum with single pair of long anterior pouches; blood system with cephalic loop, single mid­dorsal and paired lateral vessels without pseudometameric transverse connectives, all vessels thick­walled and surrounded by enormous numbers of vacuolate pouches, middorsal vessel not forming vascular plug; parenchyma extensive; excretory system confined to foregut region, eyes in four groups; sexes presumed separate.

Type species: Vulcanonemertes rangitotoensis sp. nov.