Gorgonorhynchus repens
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| Gorgonorhynchus repens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gorgonorhynchus repens discharging a sticky proboscis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Nemertea |
| Class: | Pilidiophora |
| Order: | Heteronemertea |
| Family: | Gorgonorhynchidae |
| Genus: | Gorgonorhynchus |
| Species: | G. repens |
| Binomial name | |
| Gorgonorhynchus repens | |
Gorgonorhynchus repens is a species of the proboscis worm in the subclass Heteronemertea and of the family Gorgonorhynchidae. It is to be found on the seabed in shallow water in the Pacific Ocean.
G. repens is orange in color and grows to an unstretched length of about 50 mm (2 in). It is cylindrical in shape with bluntly tapering ends.[2] Proboscis worms are known for their reversible proboscides, but in most species these are unbranched and cylindrical, or may have a sharp, venomous stylet part way to the tip. In a few instances, they are branched but the side branches are short and the proboscis resembles a feather.[3] In the case of G. repens, the proboscis is a densely branching structure giving the impression of a cloud of mucus secretion.[4]