Abstract
The colouration of living specimens of Lineus atrocaeruleus (Lineidae, Nemertea) is bluish or brownish black with many transverse yellow rings. The pigments responsible for the colouration are granular and are elaborated by epidermal and dermal pigment cells, both of which contain uroporphyrins. Granules of melanic nature occur in the dermal pigment cells. The significance of the epidermal pigment cells is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gabe, M., 1968. Techniques Histologiques. Masson et Cie, Paris, 1113 pp.
Ganter, P. & G. Jollès, 1969–1970. Histochimie Normale et Pathologique. Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 1904 pp.
Gontcharoff, M., 1961. Embranchement des Némertiens. In P.-P. Grassé (ed.), Traité de Zoologie. Masson et Cie, Paris 4: 783–886.
Grinstein, M., S. Schwartz & C. J. Watson, 1945. Studies of the uroporphyrins. J. biol. Chem. 157: 323–344.
Lemberg, R. & L. W. Legge, 1949. Hematin Compounds and Bile Pigments. Interscience, New York, 287 pp.
Lison, L., 1960. Histochemie et Cytochimie Animales — Principes et Méthodes. Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 607 pp.
MacRae, E. K., 1956. The occurrence of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin in the Platyhelminthes. Anat. Rec. 125: 636.
MacRae, E. K., 1961. Localization of porphyrin fluorescence in planarians. Science 134: 331–332.
MacRae, E. K., 1963. Chromatographic identification of porphyrins in several species of Turbellaria. Experientia 19: 1–4.
Moyer, F. H., 1963. Genetic effects on melanosome fine structure and ontogeny in normal and malignant cells. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci 100: 584–606.
Noël, P. Y., 1983. La pigmentation animale et ses différents aspects. Bull. Soc. zool. Fr. 108: 169–185.
Norenburg, J. L., 1985. Structure of the nemertine integument with consideration of its ecological and phylogenetic significance. Amer. Zool. 25: 37–51.
Pearse, A. G. E., 1968. Histochemistry, Theoretical and Applied. Churchill, London, 3rd edit., 1518 pp.
Sánchez, M. & H. J. A. Moretto, 1984.Rediscription of the heteronemertean Lineus atrocaeruleus (Schmarda 1859). Zool. Scr. 13: 183–188.
Seiji, M., K. Shimao, M. S. C. Birbeck & T. B. Fitzpatrick, 1963. Subcellular localization of melanin biosynthesis. Ann. N.Y. Acad Sci. 100: 497–533.
Vernet, G., 1983. The body wall pigment of the nemertean Lineus sanguineus: a morphological study. Cytobios 36: 197–200.
Vernet, G. & J. Bierne, 1983. Étude de la couleur du corps de trois némertes (Lineus sanguineus, L. pseudolacteus et L. lacteus): application au marquage des tissus des chimèrus interspécifiques. Bull. Soc. zool. Fr. 108: 257–266.
Vernet, G. & M. Gontcharoff, 1975. Étude autoradiographique de l'incorporation de l'acide deltaaminolévulinique 3H et du 55Fe dans les éléments figurés du sang de Lineus lacteus Montagu (Hétéronémerte). C. R. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. D 280: 1413–1415.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moretto, H.J.A., Sánchez, M. & Vernet, G. The colour pattern of Lineus atrocaeruleus (Nemertia). Hydrobiologia 156, 183–189 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027992
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027992