Catalogue of Sabellidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Grand Caribbean Region

Abstract

The most recent checklist of polychaete worms of the Grand Caribbean region dates from 1996. Since then systematic contributions for the family Sabellidae have been published resulting in changes in the taxonomic status of various genera and species. This catalogue provides new names, synonymies, new records and a list of corrected references. Twenty two genera and 51 species are listed. Fabriciinae is represented by 10 species and six genera and Sabellinae with 41 species and 16 genera. Sixteen species that were originally described from the Grand Caribbean region are currently recognised as not valid, and 11 records as questionable until any revision sustains their distribution. Information for type locality and location of type materials are included.

Morphological Modifications and Injuries of Corals Caused by Symbiotic Feather Duster Worms (Sabellidae) in the Caribbean

“…The symbiotic worms, identified as split-crown feather duster worms of the genus Anamobaea Krøyer, 1856 [22,27,29], showed some variation in coloration, ranging from white to dark red and various combination patterns of these colors (Figures 2, 3 and 9A). Two species from the Caribbean have been described, which can be distinguished by two morphological characters [27,29,32] that are not clearly visible in the photographs: Anamobaea phyllisae Tovar-Hernández & Salazar-Vallejo, 2006 has two dorsal kidney-shaped shields over the anterior margin of the base of its crown and smooth flanges (without papillae) and Anamobaea orstedi Krøyer, 1856 does not have such shields, and its flanges are wrinkled (with papillae). The former species has so far only been reported from the type locality in the British Virgin Islands, whereas the latter has a wider geographic range [29,32].…”

“…Two species from the Caribbean have been described, which can be distinguished by two morphological characters [27,29,32] that are not clearly visible in the photographs: Anamobaea phyllisae Tovar-Hernández & Salazar-Vallejo, 2006 has two dorsal kidney-shaped shields over the anterior margin of the base of its crown and smooth flanges (without papillae) and Anamobaea orstedi Krøyer, 1856 does not have such shields, and its flanges are wrinkled (with papillae). The former species has so far only been reported from the type locality in the British Virgin Islands, whereas the latter has a wider geographic range [29,32]. Because we are not sure about the identity of the associated worms, we refer to them as Anamobaea sp.…”

“…During a recent biodiversity survey of coral reefs of Curaçao (southern Caribbean), associations of split-crown feather duster worms (Anamobaea sp.) [22,27,29] with corals were observed to be abundant. Because these associations were not reported before and the presence of these worms appeared to cause aberrant growth forms and injuries in host corals, we investigated which host coral species were affected.…”

“…Although various sabellid species have been reported to live in coral reefs or more specifically on dead coral [25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], they have received little or no attention in the literature about coral-associated fauna [8,[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] and symbiotic polychaetes [46][47][48], in contrast with serpulid worms. Only a few publications mention the identity of sabellid worms and their host coral species, such as the sabellids Amphicorina schlenzae Nogueira & Amaral, 2000 and Pseudobranchiomma minima Nogueira & Knight-Jones, 2002 in living colonies of the Brazilian endemic scleractinian Mussimilia hispida (Verrill, 1901) [49,50].…”

“…The present report serves to create awareness of these associations and of the potential damage the worms may cause to Caribbean coral reefs. Several sabellids of the genera Bispira Krøyer, 1856 and Sabellastarte Krøyer, 1856 [22,27,29] were found in close proximity to corals, but appeared to have settled next to their hosts or on patches of dead coral skeleton surrounded by living coral tissue.…”