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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.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offer a broad range of high commercial value applications. However, current techniques to synthesize AgNPs using chemical and physical approaches are toxic to the environment and not cost-effective in the long-term. Therefore, utilization of green biological synthesis technique to produce AgNPs is one of the solutions. In this study, marine polychaete Diopatra claparedii was used to investigate its potential in synthesizing AgNPs. Specimens were collected from tidal flats adjacent to the mangrove forest in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and divided into two groups: freshly prepared (acclimatized in aquaria) and frozen (kept in the freezer) samples. Samples from both groups were cut, finely pulverized, filtrated, and mixed with silver nitrate (AgNO3) at room temperature. Colour changes were recorded after 24 hours, 2 weeks, and 8 weeks of incubation. Formation of AgNPs was quantified using UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis, where surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks were observed in the range of 400–440 nm, confirming the formation of the AgNPs. Subsequently, the synthesized nanoparticles were validated using scanning electron microscope. AgNPs showed weak antibacterial activity because of aggregation. Further studies are required to confirm the findings.

The present study reviews Perinereis Group 2 species from the Eastern and South-eastern Asian seas based on morphological analysis of the types, non-types and original descriptions, and the use of molecular evidence (COI and 16S rDNA) from newly collected material. These species are characterized by having two bar-shaped paragnaths on pharyngeal area VI, which are often deemed conical when small and pointed, triggering misidentifications as to Neanthes species. New terminology and definition for this particular type of bars are proposed, and the generic position of some resembling Neanthes species is also re-assessed. Five species are transferred to Perinereis: Perinereis babuzai comb. nov., P. belawanensis comb. nov., P. kinmenensis comb. nov., P. shigungensis comb. nov. and P. vitabunda comb. nov. ‘Perinereis aibuhitensis’ species group is newly proposed by encompassing species having proximal dorsal ligule similar throughout the body, dorsal cirri short, and blades of heterogomph falcigers straight with long terminal tooth forming a distinct tendon. Perinereis belawanensis comb. nov., P. linea and P. vitabunda comb. nov. are redescribed. Perinereis linea is regarded as a senior synonym of Nereis (Neanthes) orientalis and Perinereis vancaurica tetradentata based on type material, whereas its exotic status in the Mediterranean Sea is questioned. An identification key to all currently valid species within Perinereis Group 2 is also provided.

A new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) is described from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and compared with species from Marphysa Group A from the Indo-West Pacific and Indian Ocean. The number of species known within Marphysa Group A has been increased, and the concept that M. mossambica is a widely distributed species in the Indo-Pacific is refuted. The new species is commercially important and occurs in the mangrove forest along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Notes on the biology, ecology and commercial aspects of M. moribidii sp. nov. are presented.

Neanthes Kinberg, 1865 is a speciose nereidid genus with some species exhibiting epitoky during the timing of reproduction. The epitokal morphology of males and females has long been agreed to be diagnostic to distinguish species. In the present study, we provide redescriptions of the type material and reassess the current taxonomic status of four Neanthes species originally described based on the reproductive forms of specimens collected from Southeast Asia: Neanthes augeneri (Gravier & Dantan, 1934), N. gisserana (Horst, 1924), N. trifasciata (Grube, 1878) and N. trifasciata vandersandei (Horst, 1924). The non-metamorphosed and epitokous diagnostic features, including new characters found in this study, were used to redescribe and distinguish these species from other congeners. The four species are here recognised in Neanthes, whereby N. vandersandei is elevated to species level. Neanthes gisserana is considered as distinct from its previous senior synonym N. rubicunda (Ehlers, 1868). Morphology of both N. trifasciata and N. vandersandei, originally described based on mixed species, is restricted. Additionally, some remarks on the status of N. thysanota (Ehlers, 1908) are given. Distributional and reproductive data of the reviewed species are provided. An updated checklist of 80 valid species in Neanthes and synoptic tables of diagnostic features including the atokous and epitokous morphology are also presented.

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