Two new species of Caulleriella (Polychaeta, Cirratulidae) from Argentina

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Caulleriella bremecae and C. galeanoi (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae) are newly described from Mar del Plata, Argentina (38ºS, 57ºW). Both species have small, red-pigmented nuchal organs (lateral "eyes") on the prostomium. Caulleriella bremecae sp. nov. is further characterized by a peristomium without annulations except for a narrow anterior dorsal fold, posterior part of peristomium extending posterodorsally over chaetiger 1, latter extending posterodorsally over chaetiger 2 and with slightly separated grooved palps arising middorsally; notochaetae of chaetigers 1-23 all smooth capillaries, thereafter with six bidentate sigmoid hooks and 3-4 capillaries, both types fewer on last 4-5 chaetigers; neurochaetae of chaetigers 1-2 comprised of 8 bidentate hooks and 1-2 capillaries, thereafter only bidentate hooks, decreasing in number posteriorly. The species is frequent and abundant throughout the year in the intertidal mussel beds situated 200-700m from the sewage outfall of Mar del Plata city. Caulleriella galeanoi sp. nov. is characterized by a peristomium with three annulations dorsally, with grooved palps arising from annulus 3, and by smooth capillary chaetae in noto-and neuropodia of chaetigers 1-2. Bidentate hooks are present in neuropodia from chaetiger 3, numbering 5-6 in anterior and middle chaetigers, 1-3 in posterior ones. Notopodia have 3-6 pairs of smooth capillary chaetae, decreasing in number posteriorly. From chaetiger 13-20, notopodia with 1-2 capillary chaetae and 1-2 bidentate hooks. Specimens held in aquaria supplied with water and the green alga Vaucheria sp. (Vaucheriaceae) from the intertidal zone reproduced asexually by fission. Gametes were not observed in any specimens.

Caulleriella mediterranea, a new species of polychaete (Annelida: Cirratulidae) from the central Mediterranean Sea

“…In the last few years a relatively large number of papers that describe new cirratulid species have been published (i.e. Chambers & Woodham 2003;Dean & Blake 2007, 2009, 2016Elías & Rivero 2008, 2009Çinar & Petersen 2011;Magalhaes & BaileyBrock 2013;Magalhães et al 2014;Blake 2015Blake , 2016Elias et al 2016;Lezzi et al 2016), evidencing that cirratulid diversity is as yet underestimated. In the Mediterranean Sea, new cirratulid species and genera have been described (Çinar & Petersen 2011;Lezzi et al 2016) and, until now, no Caulleriella endemisms were described in the basin.…”

“…Chambers & Woodham 2003;Dean & Blake 2007, 2009, 2016Elías & Rivero 2008, 2009Çinar & Petersen 2011;Magalhaes & Bailey-Brock 2013;Magalhães et al 2014;Blake 2015Blake , 2016Elias et al 2016;Lezzi et al 2016), showing an underestimated diversity of this family in different parts of the world.…”

Protocirrineris (Polychaeta:Cirratulidae) in South Africa and description of two new species

“…Remarks: Protocirrineris strandloperarum sp. nov., is similar in shape to P. angelicollatio from the Southwestern Atlantic (Elías & Rivero, 2009) but segmental origin of tentacular filaments differ: in chaetigers 4-7 in P. angelicollatio but in chaetigers 5-10 (or 12) in P. strandloperarum sp. nov.…”

“…(Tewary, 2015). Another example could be the widely distributed, near cosmopolitan Caulleriella alata (Southern, 1914), that in the Southwestern Atlantic was recently described as a new species (Elías & Rivero, 2009). Among the multitentaculate cirratulids, Cirratulus cirratus (O.F.…”

<p class="HeadingRunIn"><strong>Two new species of Cirratulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Mar del Plata, Argentina (SW Atlantic)</strong></p>

“…The Mar del Plata area appears to be a "hot spot" for new species of cirratulids. Two new species of Caulleriella (Elías & Rivero 2008) and the two new species herein described are only a small part of the available material. Intertidal material includes an undescribed species of Dodecaceria, while subtidal material includes a new species that needs to be assigned to a genus, several undescribed species from the Mar del Plata harbor, and others from the continental shelf.…”