A review of the zoogeography and habitat data of the genus Nerilla Schmidt, 1848 (Annelida: Archiannelida)

Summary

A survey of the zoogeography of the eight constituent species of the genus Nerilla demonstrates that they are restricted to temperate and tropical coastal marine and brackish waters. The habitat substrata from which members of the genus have been recorded range in particle size from mud to small stones with an apparent preference for coarse sand and gravel. In addition to particulate substrata, collections have been made from red and green algae, ‘corallines’ and reed stems. Specific measurements of other habitat conditions have been largely limited to salinity and temperature readings.