Terrestrial nemerteans thirty years on

Abstract

The present paper records changes in the reported distribution and abundance of terrestrial nemerteans during the last 30 years. New records are reported from the Isles of Scilly, Bermuda and New Zealand of species previously only known elsewhere. Human activity, especially the increased importation and exportation of plants between countries, has probably led to terrestrial nemerteans, as well as other organisms, becoming introduced into many new localities. However, the conservation outlook is not hopeful because of a global loss of appropriate habitat, particularly forests. Today three species (Geonemertes rodericana Gulliver, 1879, Pantinonemertes agricola Willemoes-Suhm, 1874 and Antiponemertes allisonae Moore, 1973) are feared to be extinct, and none of the extant species seem to be as abundant as they once were. Behavioural changes in Antiponemertes pantini (Southgate, 1954) under arid conditions may be associated with heavy gregarine infestations.