New fanworm species (Polychaeta: Sabellidae: Fabriciinae) in the genus Pseudofabriciola Fitzhugh

Three new species are described: Pseudofabriciola quasiincisura from Belize, P. peduncula from Papua New Guinea, and P. sofla from the Gulf of Mexico off Florida. The total number of species in the genus is increased to 11. Pseudofabriciola quasiincisura and P. peduncula are intertidal, whereas P. sofla is from 26 m depth. An additional species from the Gulf of Mexico off Florida (88m depth), known only from a single specimen lacking the branchial crown, is described briefly but not named. Pseudofabriciola sofla and the unnamed species were originally described by Uebelacker (1984) as Fabricia sp. A. An emended definition for Pseudofabriciola is provided. Cladistic relationships of the species described herein are evaluated relative to others in the genus. The depth distribution of Pseudofabriciola, which displays the greatest known range within the Fabriciinae, is also re-examined.     

A revision of the Fabriciin genus Augeneriella Banse, 1957 (Polychaeta: Sabellidae)

The Sabellidae polychaete genus Augeneriella Banse is revised based on a reexamination of the type material of most species. Augeneriella hummelincki hummelincki Banse is shown to have vascularized, ventral filamentous appendages which can display up to four branches in a pectinate arrangement, as opposed to only a single dichotomy as originally described. The status of A. hummelincki indica Banse is discussed. The species A. bansei Hartmann-Schröder is based on a single, probably aberrant, specimen in which ventral filamentous appendages are unbranched. Additional material will likely show that this species displays the typical branched condition for ventral filaments. Augeneriella dubia Hartmann-Schröder can be ascribed to an undescribed genus which has been found in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Two new species of Augeneriella from the Aldabra Atoll, Indian Ocean, are described.     

Two new species of Demonax (Sabellidae: Polychaeta) from Liverpool Bay

Demonax cambrensis sp. nov. resembles the east Pacific Demonax medius (Bush), but is thinner though just as long and has less than 15 axial cells in a radiole cross section. Demonax torulis sp. nov. resembles Demonax japonicus (Moore) in having thoracic tori so small that they do not indent the ventral shields, but differs in having broad-hooded inferior thoracic setae. Both benefit by enrichment of the sediment with sewage sludge.     

Description of a new species of Armandia (Polychaeta: Opheliidae) from western Kyushu,Japan, with character variations

Armandia amakusaensis sp. nov. (Polychaeta: Opheliidae) is described from an intertidal sandflat in western Kyushu, Japan. The holotype measures 13.14 mm in total body length, and has 32 setigers, with branchiae on setigers 2–31. Eleven pairs of lateral eyes are present on setigers 7–17. The anal funnel opens dorsally, fringed with 11 papillae, its length being slightly shorter than the length of the last three setigers. A long unpaired cirrus originates mid-ventrally from the inside of the anal funnel. Variation in these diagnostic characters is described. The new species is most similar to A. leptocirris (Grube, 1878) and A. intermedia Fauvel, 1902. However, it is distinguished from A. leptocirris in the distribution patterns of the branchiae and the lateral eyes, and from A. intermedia in the distribution pattern of the lateral eyes, the ratio of anal funnel length to total body length, and the number of anal-funnel papillae.     

Annelids (Polychaeta and Oligochaeta) from the Sea of Marmara,with descriptions of five new species

This paper deals with annelids (Oligochaeta and Polychaeta) collected in the Sea of Marmara between 2006 and 2010 at depths from 0 to 66 m. A total of five oligochaete and 198 polychaete species were found. Five polychaete species, namely Prosphaerosyllis marmarae sp. nov., Levinsenia demiri sp. nov., Levinsenia kosswigi sp. nov., Levinsenia marmarensis sp. nov. and Levinsenia tribranchiata sp. nov. are new to science, and five oligochaete and 84 polychaete species are new to the fauna of the Sea of Marmara. A list of species found in the region and their maximum densities are presented at depth intervals. The present material includes six alien polychaete species, Paraprionospio coora, Polydora cornuta, Prionospio (Minuspio) pulchra, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, Chaetozone corona and Metasychis gotoi, of which the latter four species were new records for the region.     

Revision of the Mediterranean species of Harmothoe Kinberg, 1856 and Lagisca Malmgren, 1865 (Polychaeta: Polynoidae: Polynoinae) with descriptions of a new genus and a new species

Based on type material and additional specimens, the revision presented here comprises all Harmothoe and Lagisca species known to occur in the Mediterranean Sea. The following 16 Harmothoe species are considered to be valid and an identification key is provided; seven of them (marked by *) represent new records for the Mediterranean: Harmothoe antilopes McIntosh, 1876; H. areolata (Grube, 1860); *H. aspera (Hansen, 1879); H. extenuata (Grube, 1840); *H. fragilis Moore, 1910; H. fraserthomsoni McIntosh, 1897; *H. gilchristi Day, 1960; *H. goreensis Augener, 1918; H. imbricata (Linnaeus, 1767); H. impar (Johnston, 1839); *H. lagiscoides serrata Day, 1963; H. longisetis (Grube, 1863); *H. pagenstecheri Michaelsen, 1896; *H. pokoui Intes and Le Loeuff, 1975; H. spinifera (Ehlers, 1864); one new species, H. bellani, is described. Harmothoe notochaetosa Ló     

Polydora and related genera (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the Grand Caribbean region

The study of previously unidentified material of Spionidae from the Grand Caribbean region resulted in the discovery of five new species in four genera: Boccardia salazari sp. nov., Dipolydora anatentaculata sp. nov., D. contoyensis sp. nov., Polydora quintanarooensis sp. nov. and Pseudopolydora floridensis sp. nov. Boccardia salazari is characterized by two types of major spine in chaetiger 5, one with expanded end bearing cusps without bristles, the other, simple, falcate; D. anatentaculata is characterized by an occipital antenna, and major spines simple, falcate, without subterminal protuberance; D. contoyensis is characterized by six pairs of branchiae on chaetigers 11–16, major spines with two large accessory teeth on concave and convex sides in chaetiger 5, and pygidium small, glandular, cuff‐shaped with dorsal notch; Polydora quintanarooensis is characterized by two eyes, modified spines of chaetiger 5 falcate, with a lateral tooth, and gizzard‐like structure present at segment 16, and Pseudopolydora floridensis is characterized by two types of major spines in chaetiger 5, first falcate, second pennoned, with both types arranged in U‐shaped, double row, a caruncle extending to chaetigers 6–7, and an occipital antenna. A key to all species of Boccardia, Dipolydora, Polydora and Pseudopolydora from the Grand Caribbean region is provided.     

Revision of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (Polychaeta: Polynoidae: Lepidastheniinae) with notes on the subfamily Lepidastheniinae and the description of a new species

The present revision covers all known species of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (i.e. Lepidastheniella comma (Thomson, 1902), L. phillippensis Monro, 1924 and L. monroi Benham, 1950). The comparison of the available type material showed that L. monroi is a junior synonym of L. comma and that specimens from a collection of scale worms from off Shimoda (Japan) belong to the new species L. nishii sp. nov. described herein. The generic diagnosis of Lepidastheniella is emended and an identification key to all valid species given. Additionally, the subfamily affiliation of Lepidastheniella is discussed, distinctive characters of all genera belonging to the subfamily Lepidastheniinae Pettibone, 1989 are described, and an identification key to these genera is given.     

Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Aegean and Levantine coasts of Turkey,with descriptions of two new species

In this paper, soft-bottom polychaete species collected in August and September 2011 in the Aegean and Levantine Seas (4–325 m) are presented. A total of 358 species belonging to 48 families were found. Two species, Leonnates aylaoberi sp. nov. and Levinsenia materi sp. nov., are new to science and 14 species are new records for the marine fauna of Turkey. Syllidae and Spionidae were represented by a high number of species. The highest polychaete density was estimated as 5660 ind.m^?2 in the area. The most dominant species in the area were Lumbrineris geldiayi, Owenia fusiformis and Sigambra tentaculata. A total of 21 alien polychaete species were encountered in the area, of which Streblospio gynobranchiata formed a dense population in the Aegean Sea (Izmir Bay), and Prionospio depauperata and Prionospio saccifera in the Levantine Sea. Four hot spot areas for the settlement of alien species were determined in the area.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4ECEC9B2-1604-4768-B152-BBEAE257249F     

Nephtyidae (Polychaeta: Phyllodocida) of Australia: new species from the North West Shelf,and a key to Australian species

Five species of Nephtyidae new to Australia are described from the North West Shelf, and a key to the 18 known species of Australian nephtyids is given. Four of the species described are new: three species of Aglaophamus (A. foliocirrata sp. nov., A. hedlandensis sp. nov. and A. victoriae sp. nov.) and a new species of Inermonephtys (I. tetrophthalmos sp. nov.). Difficulties in the clear definition of Aglaophamus, Micronephthys and Nephtys indicate the need for systematic revision of the family.     

First record of a freshwater Pisionidae (Polychaeta): description of a new species from Panama with a key to the species of Pisione

A new species of Pisione Grube, 1857, Pisione garciavaldecasasi n. sp. (Polychaeta: Pisionidae) is described from several small rivers in Cobia Is., Pacific, off Panama. This is the first report of a freshwater Pisionidae and it is one of very few known species of true freshwater polychaetes. The species is characterized by large size, by dorsal cirri of setiger 2 and ventral cirri of setiger 1 only slightly elongated, by non-successive male copulatory organs, and by parapodia each with one compound seta with long blade and three others with short blades.     

A revision of Sabellastarte (Polychaeta: Sabellidae)

Sabella indica Savigny, 1822 (‘Indian Ocean’) is the type of Sabellastarte, but that name is preoccupied in the Pectinariidae. Sabellastarte sanctijosephi (Gravier, 1906, as Eurato, from Djibouti) has sometimes been used in its place, ignoring more suitable forms and older names. Sabellastarte spectabilis (Grube, 1878, Philippines) with an Indo-Pacific distribution is the best replacement name for S. indica, better than Sabellastarte pectoralis (Quatrefages, 1866, as Sabella) which also occurs in the Indian ocean. Sabellastarte magnifica (Shaw, 1800, Jamaica) is distinct from Indo-Pacific forms and a neotype is selected. Unlike the above species, Sabellastarte fallax (Quatrefages, 1866, as Sabella, location unknown) has a short crown relative to the body, as in Sabellastarte australiensis (Haswell, 1884, as Spirographis, New South Wales) and Sabellastarte japonica (Marenzeller, 1885 as Laonome, Japan), but both the latter differ in having bispiral crowns. Sabellastarte pottaei Quatrefages, 1866, as Sabella, New Caledonia) is a synonym of S. japonica, but rules of priority should be waived. Sabellastarte samoensis (Grube, 1870a as Sabella) and Sabellastarte sanctijosephi are least like the ‘indica’ concept. These and those above are redescribed and species removed from Sabellastarte are listed.     

Arabella aracaensis,a new species with growth rings on its mandibles,and some remarks on the endoparasitic Labrorostratus prolificus (Polychaeta: Oenonidae) from southeast Brazil

Two new species, Abaxisotima macrocaudata sp. nov. and Abaxisotima forcipiforma sp. nov., are described and illustrated, supplemental illustrations of several known species are provided. A key to species of the genus Abaxisotima Gorochov is presented. The type specimens are deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.     

Reproduction and morphology of Polydorella (Polychaeta: Spionidae), including the description of a new species from the Philippines

A new spionid polychaete, Polydorella kamakamai, associated with sponges is described from the Philippines. Polydorella kamakamai is characterized by acicular neurosetae in segments 2–7, a fifth segment containing a ventral row of spines with digitiform bosses, and lack of branchiae. As in all members of the genus, P. kamakamai undergoes asexual reproduction via paratomy; the process of paratomy is examined through scanning electron and light microscopy. This species exhibits a growth zone following segment 10, leading to the production of stolon individuals budding from the stock individual; five or more individuals can thus be formed in a single chain. Paratomic division typically occurs in chains containing four to five individuals and as a result colonies are dominated by chains of two individuals. Sexual reproduction is documented for only the second time in the genus; P. kamakamai produces eggs in segments 13–15. Asexual reproduction and fine morphological structure of the ventral spines of the fifth segment are examined by SEM in P. dawydoffi and P. stolonifera. Polydorella dawydoffi is recorded for the first time from the Philippines and the Red Sea and these are compared to type specimens from Vietnam. The ventral spines of P. dawydoffi contain eight or nine rounded or pointed teeth along the apical end and a capillary extension not previously observed with light microscopy. Notes on feeding biology, parasitism by copepods, and a discussion of the evolutionary relationships of Polydorella and other polydorids are provided.     

Caruncle in Megalomma Johansson, 1925 (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) and the description of a new species from the Eastern Tropical Pacific

The presence of a caruncle in the polychaete family Sabellidae is documented. It is placed dorsally above the mouth, between the dorsal lips, supported with hyaline cartilage constituted by a homogeneous eosinophilic matrix and it is innervated directly from the cerebral ganglion. The caruncle surface has four longitudinal ciliated bands; the cilia from the lateral bands are hypertrophied, wider distally, tongue‐like, forming a ciliated curtain or membranella. The genus Megalomma is emended based on the presence of a caruncle, a long dorsalmost radiolar pair, a high number of radiolar skeletal cells, and the presence of interramal eyespots. We describe a new species from Acapulco in the Tropical Eastern Pacific –Megalomma carunculata sp. nov. It has a caruncle, subtriangular ventral lappets, well developed dorsal pockets, compound eyes in all radioles, and interramal eyespots in the thoracic and abdominal segments.     

A new species of Pseudobranchiomma Jones (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) found amongst Brazilian coral,with a redescription of P. punctata (Treadwell, 1906) from Hawaii

A new species of Pseudobranchiomma Jones, 1962 is described from a collection of polychaetes associated with stony coral on the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. Pseudobranchiomma minima sp. n. differs from the type species P. emersoni Jones and from most other Pseudobranchiomma species in lacking serrations along the outer surface of the crown radioles. Only one other recorded fairly small species, Pseudobranchiomma punctata (Treadwell, 1906, new combination), lacks such serrations and is redescribed here. The two species differ mainly in the configurations of the collars and chaetae. This genus has characters more in common with Bispira than with Branchiomma.     

The genus Coralaxius redefined,with the description of two new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Axiidae)

The genus Coralaxius is rediagnosed, and the type species C. nodulosus (Meinert, 1877), the holotype of which was found to be identical with C. abelei Kensley and Gore, 1982, is redescribed. The two new species of Coralaxius are described, viz. C. galapagensis from the Galapagos Islands, and C. indopacificus from Fiji and the Comoro Islands. On the basis of carapace, gill and appendage characters, it is concluded that C. indopacificus is more primitive than the other two species. The genus is thought to have had a tethyan distribution, with the eastern Pacific representative being cut off from the western Atlantic form with the raising of the Isthmus of Panama.