A New Species in the Marphysa sanguinea Complex (Annelida, Eunicidae) from Hong Kong

Paucibranchiaglemareci sp. nov. (Annelida, Eunicidae), a new species from the French Atlantic continental shelf

In this study, we describe a new species belonging to the genus Paucibranchia Molina-Acevedo, 2018 found in the area "La Grande Vasière" on the French Atlantic continental shelf (Bay of Biscay). Paucibranchiaglemareci sp. nov. lives between 100 and 130 m depth on muddy sands. It is easily distinguished from most other European species of the genus by the absence of compound spinigerous chaetae. A key to the European species of the genus Paucibranchia is given.

Four new species of Marphysa (Annelida, Eunicida, Eunicidae) from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Four new species of Marphysa are described from Terengganu state on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, using morphological and molecular (cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene) data. These species belong to different groups of Marphysa: Marphysakertehensis sp. nov. belongs to Group A (Mossambica), Marphysamerchangensis sp. nov. and Marphysasetiuense sp. nov. belong to Group B (Sanguinea) and Marphysaibaiensis sp. nov. belongs to Group E (Gravelyi). Marphysakertehensis sp. nov. is characterised by having only limbate chaetae, absence of subacicular hooks, three types of pectinate chaetae including wide, thick isodont with short and slender inner teeth, and pectinate branchiae with up to nine branchial filaments. Marphysamerchangensis sp. nov. is characterised by the presence of eyes, unidentate subacicular hooks, four types of pectinate chaetae including wide, thick anodont pectinate chaetae with five long and thick inner teeth, and pectinate branchiae with up to six branchial filaments. Marphysasetiuense sp. nov. has mostly unidentate subacicular hooks (bidentate on several posterior chaetigers), four types of pectinate chaetae including wide, thick anodont pectinate chaetae with seven thick and long inner teeth, and pectinate branchiae with up to five branchial filaments. Marphysaibaiensis sp. nov. has bidentate subacicular hooks throughout, five types of pectinate chaetae, including a heterodont with 12 short and slender inner teeth, and pectinate branchiae with up to eight branchial filaments. The designation of these new species based on morphology is fully supported by molecular data. Habitat descriptions of each species are also included.

A closer look at the taxonomic and genetic diversity of endemic South African Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865

The current study investigates the final unresolved cosmopolitan species of Marphysa in South Africa, Marphysa corallina, collected from KwaZulu Natal, Eastern and Western Cape provinces, together with another species collected from northern KwaZulu Natal. Morphological and genetic data prove that M. corallina, originally described from Hawaii, does not occur in South Africa. The curvature of the inner base on maxilla I, the elevated inner base of maxilla II, and the ventral cirrus as a transverse welt with a rounded tip allow us to identify it as a new species of Treadwellphysa, T. izinqa sp. nov. (common name: brown wonderworm). Characteristic traits include the basal reddish and distal golden colour of the subacicular hook, the ear-shaped postchaetal lobe, and tridentate falcigers which is reported for the first time for the genus. This species is harvested as bait on the south coast of SA, although less frequently than the more common blood wonderworm, Marphysa haemasona Quatrefages, 1866, and can be distinguished by its more uniform brown colouration and white-tipped antennae. A second species, Marphysa mzingazia sp. nov., is characterized by red eyes, six branchial filaments extending to the posterior end, the golden aciculae in posterior chaetigers, weakly bidentate yellow/brown subacicular hooks, and the presence of similar sized spinigers along the body. A molecular analysis based on cytochrome oxidase I fragments confirm both taxa as different species. A key for all South African species of Marphysa is included.

The Current State of Eunicida (Annelida) Systematics and Biodiversity

In this study, we analyze the current state of knowledge on extant Eunicida systematics, morphology, feeding, life history, habitat, ecology, distribution patterns, local diversity and exploitation. Eunicida is an order of Errantia annelids characterized by the presence of ventral mandibles and dorsal maxillae in a ventral muscularized pharynx. The origin of Eunicida dates back to the late Cambrian, and the peaks of jaw morphology diversity and number of families are in the Ordovician. Species richness is heterogeneous among the seven recent families, with more than half of the valid species belonging to the Eunicidae + Onuphidae clade, one of the latest clades to diverge. Eunicidans inhabit soft and hard substrates from intertidal to deep waters in all oceans. The few freshwater species are restricted to Histriobdellidae, a family exclusively commensal/parasite of crustaceans. The reproductive biology, development and ecology of most families are poorly known and the information available suggests low dispersal ability. However, all families have records of widely distributed species. Scrutiny of these wide distributions has often revealed the presence of exotic species or more than one species. The exploration of the deep-sea and of new habitats has led to recent descriptions of new species. Furthermore, the revision of type specimens, the examination of new morphological features and the use of molecular data have revealed hidden biodiversity under unjustified synonyms, poor understanding of morphological features and incomplete descriptions. Molecular studies are still very few or nonexistent for the families Histriobdellidae, Hartmaniellidae, Lumbrineridae and Oenonidae. The integration of new methodologies for morphological and molecular study, along with information on biological and ecological traits appears to be the path to improve the knowledge on the diversity of Eunicida.

Morphological and molecular systematic review of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Annelida: Eunicidae) species from South Africa

A vast polychaete fauna is hidden behind complexes of cryptic and pseudo-cryptic species, which has greatly hindered our understanding of species diversity in several regions worldwide. Among the eunicids, Marphysa sanguinea Montagu, 1813 is a typical example, recorded in three oceans and with various species considered its junior synonyms. In South Africa, specimens previously misidentified as M. sanguinea are now known as Marphysa elityeni Lewis & Karageorgopoulos, 2008. Of the six Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865a species recorded from the same region, three have their distributions restricted to South Africa while the others are considered to have worldwide distributions. Here, we evaluated the taxonomic status of the indigenous M. elityeni and investigated the presence of the widespread species Marphysa macintoshi Crossland, 1903 and Marphysa depressa Schmarda, 1861 in South Africa using morphological and molecular data. Our results reveal that M. elityeni is a junior synonym of Marphysa haemasoma, a species previously described from South Africa which is herein reinstated as a valid species. Both M. macintoshi and M. depressa are not present in South Africa and their status as being distributed worldwide deserves further investigation. Marphysa durbanensis Day, 1934 and the new species described here, M. sherlockae n. sp., had been misidentified as M. macintoshi and M. depressa respectively. Thus, the number of Marphysa species with distributions restricted to South Africa increased from three to five. This study reiterates the importance of implementing an integrated taxonomic framework to unravel local biodiversity.

A New Species of Predatory Nudibranch (Gastropoda: Trinchesiidae) of the Coral Pavona decussata

Some nudibranchs are predators of scleractinian corals, but little is known about their diversity. Here we describe Phestilla fuscostriata sp. nov., the first species of nudibranch that preys on Pavona decussata, a structure-forming agariciid species in the South China Sea. This new species has a white body with brown pigmentation on the dorsum and cerata, and exhibits excellent mimicry by matching the colour of its coral host. The nudibranch lays crescent-shaped egg masses on the coral surface, where the embryos develop and hatch in 2-3 weeks. This new species possesses a large number of cerata that are arranged in widely-spaced rows, with each row having one dorsal ceras and zero to several ventral cerata, which distinguishes it from all other congeneric species. A comparison of the mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA genes and the nuclear H3 gene between P. fuscostriata sp. nov. and other Phestilla spp. found that their interspecific distances are large enough to justify the recognition of the new species.

Continued Exploration of Tanzanian Rainforests Reveals a New Echiniscid Species (Heterotardigrada)

The Afrotropical tardigrade fauna is insufficiently studied, and consequently its diversity in this region is severely underestimated. Ongoing sampling in the Udzungwa Mountains, Morogoro Region of Tanzania has revealed a new representative of the genus Echiniscus C.A.S. Schultze, 1840 (Echiniscidae). Echiniscus tantulus sp. nov. belongs to the spinulosus group, but it stands out from other members of this speciose Echiniscus clade by having a heteromorphic sculpture of the dorsal plates and an uncommonly stable body appendage configuration A-C-C d -D d -E. The new species is characteristic by being equipped with long dorsal spines and very short lateral spicules, which so far have been found only in one other species of the group, Echiniscus spinulosus (Doyère, 1840). An updated checklist of Tanzanian Echiniscidae is provided, incorporating recent advances in their classification.