Genus Alvinonemertes gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CFDEAFD6-7280-41BB-92E2-E6B4C66E28F1

Type species

Alvinonemertes dariae gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Small monostiliferous hoplonemerteans less than 20 mm long, usually lacking distinct coloration. Eyes absent, one pair of cephalic furrows. Body wall consisting of outer circular and inner longitudinal muscle layers, proboscis with three muscle layers (outer circular, middle longitudinal, and inner circular). Proboscis with two accessory stylet pouches bearing two to five accessory stylets. Cerebral ganglia and lateral nerves in body wall longitudinal musculature. Lateral nerve cords with accessory nerves. Middorsal blood vessel present.

Etymology

Named after the HOV Alvin that was used to collect the type species and three of the other species of the here described nemerteans.

Phylogenetic remarks

The genus is sister to the clade comprising specimens of the monotypic genera Vieitezia and Chernyshevia gen. nov., as well as specimens of Tetrastemma vittigerum and T. elegans . The genus is nested within a clade that also includes the represented specimens of the genera Gononemertes and Galathenemertes (Fig. 7).

Remarks

The genus Alvinonemertes gen. nov. is erected as new genus based on its phylogenetic position as sister to the aforementioned clade comprising Chernyshevia gen. nov. and Vieitezia . Interspecific pairwise p-distances of COI vary between 10% and 14% within the genus.

Species included

Alvinonemertes dariae gen. et sp. nov., Alvinonemertes dagmarae gen. et sp. nov., Alvinonemertes christianeae gen. et sp. nov., Alvinonemertes claudiae gen. et sp. nov., Alvinonemertes tatjanae gen. et sp. nov.