LAND NEMERTINES OF RODRIGUES

Two species of land nemertines have been reported from Rodrigues. The first, Geonemertes rodericana, was discovered by Gulliver in 1874 at w hich time extensive searches revealed no other species on the island; in 1993 two of the present authors visited Rodrigues and could find on ly G. pelaensis, a species which is widespread on other Indopacific is lands including Reunion, a new locality reported in the present paper. Histological re-examination of G. rodericana shows that, while the tw o species are closely related, both being correctly placed in the genu s Geonemertes (Prosorhochmidae), they differ not only in colour but al so in internal features; for example, G. pelaensis is hermaphroditic w hile G. rodericana is dioecious. A full description of G. rodericana i s given here for the first time. Geonemertes rodericana has only been recorded from the island of Rodrigues and is now feared to be extinct.