Systematic review of the species of the family Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013 (Annelida, Terebelliformia), with descriptions of three new species

ABSTRACT

Species in the family Telothelepodidae are divided among four genera, two of which are monotypic, following a recent phylogenetic study of the family based on morphological characters. This division is as follows: the genera Telothelepus and Mesopothelepus are both monotypic; Rhinothelepus has five species, including R. bifurcatum sp. nov., described herein, and Parathelepus has eight species, including P. praecox sp. nov. and P. scutatum sp. nov., both also described herein. We provide definitions and descriptions of these four genera and 15 species of Telothelepodidae, the most diagnostic generic and specific characters are discussed and a key for the identifications of members of all known species in this family is given.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:223AC929-9E0D-4347-A5D0-F104FD205C40

SUBJECT EDITOR:

• Danny Eibye-Jacobsen

KEYWORDS:

• Polychaeta
• Mesopothelepus
• Parathelepus
• Rhinothelepus
• Telothelepus
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We are very much in debt to all collection managers and curators who sent us material for the present study: Chris Glasby (NTM), Emma Sherlock (NHMUK); Leslie Harris (NHMLAC); Linda Ward (USNM); Penny Berents and Stephen Keable (AM); and Nigel Monaghan, from National Museum of Ireland – Natural History. 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 (AM). Leslie Harris (NHMLAC) generously hosted JMMN and OC at her house during the visits to her institution, allowed them to use her stereo microscope and camera, and also provided fruitful discussions and many other kind favours. In addition, Leslie Harris also re-examined some specimens recently, to confirm the codings for some characters. JMMN currently receives a productivity grant from CNPq.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

For a three month visit to the Australian Museum in 2004, a 1.5 month visit in 2013, and a two month visit in 2014 JMMN 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); a three month visit to the AM in 2006 was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq; in addition, for his first visit to the AM (2004), JMMN also received a Visiting Fellowship from the AM. The two visits by JMMN to the NHMLAC were also funded by FAPESP (procs. 07/52733-0 and 09/50823-8). OC also visited the AM, for four months, and the NHMLAC, for two weeks, sponsored by FAPESP (proc. 13/02066-9). The visits of PH and KF to the LaPol, IB–USP, were funded by FAPESP (proc. 15/19404-0).