1. Marine worms of the phylum Nemertea, characterized by a long, muscular, retractable proboscis and typically found in ocean sediments.
Usage: plural form; zoology; also called ribbon worms or proboscis worms

Examples

• Nemerteans are soft-bodied marine animals that use their proboscis to capture prey.
• Scientists discovered several new species of nemerteans in the deep ocean trenches.
• The nemerteans in this tide pool are mostly small and difficult to observe without magnification.
• Unlike flatworms, nemerteans have a complete digestive system with both a mouth and anus.
• Researchers study nemerteans to better understand the evolution of early animal body plans.