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6 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, New data for Carinina ochracea Sundberg et al., 2009 are provided for the Iberian Peninsula, establishing the southernmost limit of its known distribution. This species was previously known from only two localities: the type locality in Tjärnö (Sweden) and Pouldohan (Brittany, France). The material examined here was obtained during a faunal survey in the Villaviciosa Estuary (Asturias, northern Iberian Peninsula). The identity of the new specimen was confirmed both by DNA barcoding and anatomical examination. The molecular divergence of all available sequences of this species for four molecular markers, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S, 18S and 28S rDNA, is discussed. For COI, four polymorphic sites were found, indicating: 1) a nuclear pseudogene; 2) heteroplasmy; or 3) gene duplication of a region of the mitochondrial genome. Two previously overlooked morphological characters were found: the presence of a colour ring and a postfixation staining band (pigmented band), which is histologically characterized. This species is the 12th palaeonemertean and the 75th nemertean reported from Iberian waters, This study was supported by grant CGL2011-23306 from the Spanish government

The proboscis and rhynchocoel musculature of 56 nemertean species was studied using phalloidin labelling and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Six types of muscle layers are found in the anterior proboscis of the nemerteans: inner circular, inner diagonal, inner longitudinal, outer diagonal, outer circular, and outer longitudinal. Only the inner circular and inner longitudinal muscle layers are present in all the nemerteans studied. Ten types of arrangement of the proboscis musculature are described. Three primary types ('palaeotype', 'heterotype', and 'hoplotype') correspond to the three nemertean supergroups (Palaeonemertea, Heteronemertea, and Hoplonemertea). The evolutionary transformations of the initial 'palaeotype' proboscis proceeded in two primary ways: increasing bilateral symmetry (Callinera, Hubrechtella, and most of Heteronemertea) and increasing polyradial symmetry (Baseodiscidae, Oxypolellinae, and Hoplonemertea). The musculature of the middle portion of the proboscis differs among the three groups with armature: Palaeonemertea (genus Callinera), Polystilifera, and Monostilifera. The musculature of the stylet apparatus of the monostiliferous nemerteans is more complicated than that of the polystiliferous nemerteans, and consists of four muscle components--basal and anterior sphincters, radial and longitudinal musculature. Among the studied monostiliferans, the different components of the stylet musculature are developed to varying degrees. In addition, data on the structure of the rhynchocoel with interwoven musculature are provided. The taxonomic significance and phylogenetic interpretation of the proboscis and rhynchocoel musculature is discussed.

We compared the anatomy of the holotype of the palaeonemertean Cephalothrix simula ( Iwata, 1952 ) with that of the holotypes of Cephalothrix hongkongiensis Sundberg, Gibson and Olsson, 2003 and Cephalothrix fasciculus ( Iwata, 1952 ), as well as additional specimens from Fukue (type locality of C. simula) and Hiroshima, Japan. While there was no major morphological discordance between these specimens, we found discrepancies between the actual morphology and some statements in the original description of C. simula with respect to supposedly species-specific characters. Our observation indicates that these three species cannot be discriminated by the anatomical characters so far used to distinguish congeners. For objectivity of scientific names, topogenetypes of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences are designated for C. simula, C. hongkongiensis, and C. fasciculus. Analysis of COI sequence showed that the Hiroshima population can be identified as C. simula, which has been found in previous studies from Trieste, Italy, and also from both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, indicating an artificial introduction via (1) ballast water, (2) ship-fouling communities, or (3) the commercially cultured oyster Crassostrea gigas ( Thunberg, 1793 ) brought from Japan to France in 1970s. Cephalothrix simula is known to be toxic, as it contains large amounts of tetrodotoxin (TTX). We report here that the grass puffer Takifugu niphobles ( Jordan and Snyder, 1901 )-also known to contain TTX- consumes C. simula. We suggest that the puffer may be able to accumulate TTX by eating C. simula.

Based on specimens collected subtidally (similar to 10 m in depth) in Tomioka Bay, Japan, we describe the palaeonemertean Tubulanus tamias sp. nov., which differs from all its congeners in body coloration. In molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of the nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes and histone H3, as well as the mitochondrial 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes, among selected palaeonemerteans, T. tamias nested with part of the congeners in Tubulanus, while the genus as currently diagnosed appears to be non-monophyletic. Molecular cloning detected polymorphism in 28S rDNA sequences in a single individual of T. tamias, indicating incomplete concerted evolution of multiple copies. Tubulanus tamias is peculiar among tubulanids in having 9-10 pigment-cup eyes in the epidermis on either side of the head anterior to the cerebral sensory organs, and remarkably there are two types of eyes. The anterior 8-9 pairs of eyes, becoming larger from anterior to posterior, are completely embedded in the epidermis and proximally abutting the basement membrane; each pigment cup contains bundle of up to seven, rod-shaped structure that resemble a rhabdomeric photoreceptor cell. In contrast, the posterior-most pair of eyes, larger than most of the anterior ones, have an optical cavity filled with long cilia and opening to the exterior, thus appearing to have ciliary-type photoreceptor cells. The size and arrangement of the eyes indicate that the posterior-most pair of eyes are the remnant of the larval (or juvenile) eyes.

16 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, A literature-based taxonomic catalogue of nemerteans (phylum Nemertea) from Spain and Portugal is provided, listing 75 species (12 Palaeonemertea, 24 Pilidiophora, and 39 Hoplonemertea) belonging to 34 genera. This is a low species number compared with the approximately 400 species listed in Europe. This lack of knowledge is mainly due to the low number of researchers interested in the phylum and the well-known taxonomic difficulties of its study. Geographic records are indicated for each species, and for some, comments are included on certain biological and taxonomic aspects, This research has benefited from funds from the Instituto de Estudios Ceutíes, Ceuta, Spain. The study was also supported by the Franklin Institute, Universidad de Alcalá