Phylogenetic analysis of the family Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013 (Annelida: Terebelliformia)

ABSTRACT

Members of the 12 known species of the family Telothelepodidae, plus individuals of three additional undescribed species, were examined to infer phylogenetic relationships within the family and evaluate the status of genera. The outgroups include members of three species of Polycirridae and three of Thelepodidae. Members of 21 species, including both in- and outgroups, were coded for 47 subjects (‘characters’) and 109 characters sensu stricto (subject-predicate relations or ‘states’). The results, based on 15 minimum-length trees, each 103 steps long, suggest that telothelepodids should be divided into four genera, according to the morphology of the lower lip, presence or absence of eyespots, and visibility of segment 1. By necessity two of these genera are monotypic and plesiomorphic to two monophyletic genera; the latter two genera with five and eight species, respectively. Telothelepus, Parathelepus and Rhinothelepus are redefined, and the new genus Mesopothelepus gen. nov. is erected, all to accommodate the phylogenetic hypotheses presented. The problem of properly defining monotypic supraspecific taxon names as representative of phylogenetic hypotheses is discussed in relation to the inherent limitations of Article 13.1.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8C05DBD2-8226-4738-BF4A-E623A97ACB75

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:

• Danny Eibye-Jacobsen

KEYWORDS:

• Morphology
• phylogenetic systematics
• Polychaeta
• Polycirridae
• Thelepodidae

Acknowledgements

We are very much in debt to all collection managers and curators who sent us material for the present study: Chris Glasby (NTM), Danny Eibye-Jacobsen (ZMUC), Emma Sherlock (BMNH); Leslie Harris (NHMLAC); Linda Ward (USNM); Penny Berents and Stephen Keable (AM). We thank the Brazilian Energy Company ‘Petrobras’ for providing the material from Campos and Espírito Santo Basins, collected during the ‘Habitats’ and ‘Ambes’ Projects. The SEM photos were taken by Sue Lindsay, from the AM. Leslie Harris (NHMLAC) generously hosted João M. M. Nogueira and Orlemir Carrerette at her house during the visits to the NHMLAC, allowed them to use her stereo microscope and camera, and also provided fruitful discussions and many other kind favours. Finally, we are thankful to two anonymous referees and the Subject Editor, Danny Eibye-Jacobsen, for the valuable suggestions and fruitful discussions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

For the three month long visit to the Australian Museum in 2004, a 1.5 month visit in 2013, and the two month long visit in 2014 João M. M. Nogueira received grants from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo—FAPESP (procs 04/02843-6, 10/52116-4 and 14/11250-0); the three month long visit to the AM in 2006 was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq; in addition, for the first visit to the AM (2004), João M. M. Nogueira also received a Visiting Fellowship from the AM; the two visits of João M. M. Nogueira to the NHMLAC were also funded by FAPESP (procs 07/52733-0 and 09/50823-8), as well as the visit to the MNH (proc. 2015/19404-0). João M. M. Nogueira currently receives a productivity grant from CNPq. Orlemir Carrerette also visited the AM, for four months, and the NHMLAC, for two weeks, sponsored by FAPESP (proc. 13/02066-9). The visits of Pat Hutchings and Kirk Fitzhugh to the LaPol, IB–USP, were funded by FAPESP (proc. 15/19404-0).