Argonemertes sp. (c.f. A. australiensis) - A non-native terrestrial nemertine (Nemertean images)

Specimens found among rotting timber and under stones in the Penzance area of West Cornwall. Species first found in the authors garden in Heamoor, Penzance, Cornwall, in May 2013.

This species has been DNA sequenced at the Natural History Museum in London, the sequence does not represent any described species. Although thought to be very similar this species is not Argonemertes australiensis, which has a different barcode. The species is waiting to be described.

It is thought the species might have been introduced by Treseders Nursery from Australia on the trunks of tree ferns at the begining of the 20th century. The authors garden is just a couple of miles from Trewidden Gardens where Dicksonia antarctica was first grown outdoors in the UK. Dicksonia is grown even closer to the author at Morrab Gardens, Penzance and at Trengwainton Garden and has even naturalized in woods near Skimmel Bridge. This nemertean species has also been found in Morrab Gardens and in Penzance Cemetery.

An expert in Australia believes it is unlikely the species survives in the wild in Australia due to environmental change due to climate change, deforestation and development. Cornwall now appears to be its adopted home.

Tags: Argonemertes new UK species terrestrial nemertean ribbon smiling worm nemertine NNS non-native alien Australian APHOTOMARINE May 2013

APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.