Polycirridae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) off Kyky (Black Sea, Trkiye) with descriptions of three new species

The examination of benthic materials collected in September 2022 at six stations off Kyky (south-west coast of the Black Sea, Trkiye) both on hard (three stations) and soft substrata (three stations) at depths ranging from 8 and 27 m revealed a total of 57 polychaete species belonging to 22 families. Among the species, the polynoid Malmgrenia polypapillata is a new record for the Black Sea fauna, and three species belonging to the Syllidae (Erinaceusyllis defneae n. sp.) and Terebellidae (Polycirrus karadenizicus n. sp. and P. rhombolabiatus n. sp.) are new to science. Algae dominated (Cystoseira cinita, Cladophora sp. and Phyllophora crispa) rocky substrata had 30 polychaete species and a maximum polychaete density of 7325 individuals/m2, while soft bottom substrata (fine sand and muddy sand with shell fragments) possessed 38 species and a maximum polychaete density of 3520 individuals/m2. The family Nereididae (3176% of the total number of individuals), and the species Platynereis dumerilii and Polyphthalmus pictus dominated hard bottom stations, whereas the families Nephtyidae, Spionidae and Dorvilleidae, and the species Micronephthys longicornis, Protodorvillea kefersteini and Prionospio maciolekae were represented by high number of individuals at soft-bottom stations.

Investigating the diversity of bioluminescent marine worm Polycirrus (Annelida), with description of three new species from the Western Pacific

Bioluminescence, a phenomenon observed widely in organisms ranging from bacteria to metazoans, has a significant impact on the behaviour and ecology of organisms. Among bioluminescent organisms, Polycirrus, which has unique emission wavelengths, has received attention, and advanced studies such as RNA-Seq have been conducted, but they are limited to a few cases. In addition, accurate species identification is difficult due to lack of taxonomic organization. In this study, we conducted comprehensive taxonomic survey of Japanese Polycirrus based on multiple specimens from different locations and described as three new species: Polycirrus onibi sp. nov., P. ikeguchii sp. nov. and P. aoandon sp. nov. The three species can be distinguished from the known species based on the following characters: (i) arrangement of mid-ventral groove, (ii) arrangement of notochaetigerous segments, (iii) type of neurochaetae uncini, and (iv) arrangement of nephridial papillae. By linking the bioluminescence phenomenon with taxonomic knowledge, we established a foundation for future bioluminescent research development. We also provide a brief phylogenetic tree based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences to discuss the evolution of bioluminescence and the direction of future research.

The Terebelliformia-Recent Developments and Future Directions

Terebelliformia comprises a large group of sedentary polychaetes which live from the intertidal to the deep sea. The majority live in tubes and are selective deposit feeders. This study synthesises the current knowledge of this group, including their distribution, in the different biogeographic regions. We highlight the new methodologies being used to describe them and the resolution of species complexes occurring in the group. The main aim of this review is to highlight the knowledge gaps and to stimulate research in those directions, which will allow for knowledge of their distribution and abundances to be used by ecologists and managers.