Prostoma graecense

Prostoma graecense is a species of Nemertea in the family Prostomatidae.^[2] It was once called Emea rubrum.^[3] It is closely related to Prostoma eilhardi.^[4] The species is distributed all across the world.

Prostoma graecense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Nemertea
Class:	Hoplonemertea
Order:	Monostilifera
Family:	Prostomatidae
Genus:	Prostoma
Species:	P. graecense
Binomial name
Prostoma graecense (Böhmig, 1892)
Synonyms[1]
Monopora lacustris (du Plessis, 1892) Prostoma jenningsi Gibson & Young, 1971 Prostoma rubrum (Leidy) Stichostemma graecense (Böhmig, 1892) Tetrastemma graecense Böhmig, 1893 Tetrastemma graecensis Böhmig, 1892 Tetrastemma lacustre du Plessis, 1892

Characteristics

Individuals in this species can reach up to a length of 5 cm.^[5] It is hermaphroditic and has 2 or 3 pairs of eyes.^[6]

Occurrence

It is distributed all across the world.^[3] However the authenticity of this is hard to tell. It has been reported in the continents of Europe, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia,^[7] and North America.^[4]

It has been reported in Japan, Russia, New Zealand, Kenya,^[7] Venezuela, Argentina, and Mexico.^[5] Genetic evidence indicates this species was introduced by humans.^{[8][clarification needed]}

It is the only known species of fresh water Nemertea in Australia.^[9]

It is rarely found in the United States.^[3] But in the state of Connecticut it lives in freshwater habitats. Here it usually lives among algae, plants, or detritus. It is more numerous during the Fall season.^[6]