Freshwater Ribbon Worms (Nemertea) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A previously undocumented presence of freshwater ribbon worms (Nemertea) was discovered in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. All six specimens collected between 2007 and 2010 belonged to the genus Prostoma, though species identification remains inconclusive, and it is uncertain whether any represent new or undescribed species. The study employed a descriptive approach, analyzing specimen characteristics through photography and morphological examination. This finding marks the first report of ribbon worms in this UNESCO-listed site, highlighting potential biodiversity overlooked in prior surveys.

Glasgow, B. C., & Pierce, P. (2014). Freshwater Ribbon Worms (Nemertea) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science, 130(2), 60–64. https://doi.org/10.7572/2167-5880-130.2.60