A marine bacterium provisionally identified as Vibrio alginoliticus, which is associated withtetrodotoxin production, was isolated from severalspecies of marine nemerteans. The presence of thisbacterium strongly supports the potential use oftetrodotoxins by nemerteans for protection againstingestion by predators or as an agent in their ownpredatory activities. Tetrodotoxins may facilitatethe ability of the nemertean proboscis to subdue preyduring capture. One commensal nemertean speciesappears not to possess the bacterium. This may bedue, in part, to its non-predatory life style.
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