Rediscovery of the nemertean Prostoma graecense from Xochimilco, 75 years after its first and only record

Abstract

The identity of the freshwater nemertean Prostoma graecense (Böhming, 1892) from Lake Xochimilco is solved 75 years after its first recording. Identification of the specimens was accomplished via both morphological and
molecular means, the latter employing the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I. Recent literature and our results suggest that this species has a cosmopolitan distribution and has, presumably, been recently introduced to areas well removed from its original distribution, which is unknown. The current study provides a background for continuing the work with freshwater and marine nemerteans and underscores the importance of including molecular data in future studies of the group.