POLYCHAETE CRYPTOFAUNA FROM RIMS OF SIMILAR INTERTIDAL VERMETID REEFS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF ISRAEL AND IN THE GULF OF ELAT: NEREIDAE (POLYCHAETA ERRANTIA)

ABSTRACT

The Nereidae were from two similar habitats, aggregated tubes of vermetid (Dendropoma) species encrusting seaward rims of intertidal platforms on the Mediterranean coast of Israel and in the Gulf of Elat. The five Mediterranean species were: Platynereis dumerilii. Nereis zonata, Pseudonereis anomala, Perinereis cultrifera and P. macropus. The last species is a new record for the Levant basin. The nine Gulf of Elat species were: Platynereis pulchella, Ceratonereis mirabilis, Perinereis nigropunctata, Nereis coutieri, N. ethiopiae, N. ghardaqae, N. jacksoni reducta, Pseudonereis anomala and P. gallapagensis. The last five are new records for the Gulf of Elat. Nereis ethiopiae, a small species, previously known from a single record, is abundant in the Gulf of Elat Dendropoma habitat; P. gallapagensis, a large species, is the dominant polychaete.