Cognetti's syllid collection (Polychaeta: Syllidae) deposited at the Museum of the Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” (Naples, Italy), with descriptions of two new species of Autolytus

Abstract

A total of 36 syllid specimens preserved on permanent slides, which were collected and identified by G. Cognetti, and deposited at the Museum of the Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn” in Naples, Italy, were re‐examined. Among the material, two new species of Autolytus, Autolytus antondohrni sp. nov. and A. cognettii sp. nov., were found and are described. Three new combinations are assigned: Autolytus mediterraneus (Cognetti, 1953), Exogone (Parexogone) meridionalis (Cognetti, 1955) and Syllis alternata Moore, 1908. Four lectotypes are designated for Autolytus convolutus Cognetti, 1953, A. mediterraneus (Cognetti, 1953), A. neapolitanus Cognetti, 1953 and Exogone (Parexogone) meridionalis (Cognetti, 1955). Proceraea scapularis (Claparède, 1864) is resurrected.

Keywords:

• Autolytus antondohrni
• Autolytus cognettii
• Cognetti's collection
• Mediterranean Sea
• new combinations
• new species
• Polychaeta
• Syllidae

Acknowledgements

We are very much indebted to Drs Flegra Bentivegna and Isabella D'Ambra for loaning the material and their kind help in the museum; to Dr Guillermo San Martín (Madrid, Spain) for critically reading the first draft of the manuscript; to TUBITAK (NATO‐B1 Programme) for the financial support which enabled the senior author (M.E.Ç.) to visit the Stazione Zoologica “Anton Dohrn”; and to two anonymous referees for critically reading the manuscript.