| Nereis ovarius Read, 1980. Family Nereididae | ||||
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Nereis ovarius [Click photo for picture page] 
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| Habitat: | Intertidal. Subtidal. Rocky shore. Open beaches. Epifaunal. Depth range: 0-5 (m). Salinity regime: Marine only. Microhabitat: Low tide within holdfasts of turfing-habit small algae. Tube: Rough structure of debris and mucus. | |||
| Occurrence: | Consistently occurring. Density: 50 (m2).
Distribution in NZ: Widespread in New Zealand | |||
| Feeding guild: | Surface grazing-herbivore. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Genus Nereis in Family Nereididae.
A small species with few paragnaths, dorsally present as inconspicuous minute single cones on areas II and VI, ventrally a single row on VII-VIII, one conical on area III, a small diagonal group on IV. Tentacular cirri characteristically spindle-shaped, short. Posterior parapodia with notopodial ligule much reduced. From chaetiger 14 a single homogomph notopodial bidentate falciger is present. Colour: Pale greenish- or brownish-yellow anteriorly, paler posteriorly, with scattered white surface spots. Maturing females with conspicuous very large green oocytes. Maximum size: 20 mm total length, 1 mm body width. |
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| Notable aspect: | Small size, small paragnaths dorsally, spindle-shaped tentacular cirri. | |||
| Comparisons: | Nereis ovarius is easily distinguished from other New Zealand Nereis on paragnath pattern. N. falcaria has similar homogomph notopodial falcigers. | |||
| Taxonomy: | Distinct but belongs in the N. jacksoni group. | |||
| Distribution: | Endemic. NZ only. | |||
| Biology: | This endemic Nereis has a unique reproductive biology. It metamorphoses and spawns in spring. Heteronereids have a pseudocopulation in which the swimming male grasps the female with his tail. The female carries the fertilised eggs on her dorsal surface at first, before gluing them inside a shelter where she broods them. Larvae hatch after about 8 chaetigers have developed. | |||
| Best References: | Biology: Read (1980) A new species of Nereis (Polychaeta: Nereididae) from Wellington, New Zealand, rock shores.. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 10:185-193 Taxonomy: No recommendation. | |||
| More information: |
Synonyms, NZ records | Original figures | Original description details | |
| Genus diagnosis | More pictures | Further references (biology, etc) | Family Nereididae | |
| Internet sources: |
GOOGLE Search | AlltheWeb Search | CISTI | CBIF BiOSC Gateway | GOBASE Molecular | GenBank | Genus only in GenBank | | |||
| Genus only in Ubio Taxonomic Name Server | PubMed | Scirus | Zoological Record | | ||||
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