Taxonomy and distribution of the genus Amphicteis (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) collected by the BIOICE project in Icelandic waters

Abstract

Based on material collected during the BIOICE project off Iceland, four species of polychaetous annelids belonging to the genus Amphicteis Grube, 1850 (Polychaeta: Ampharetidae) were found: Amphicteis gunneri, Amphicteis ninonae, Amphicteis vestis and Amphicteis wesenbergae sp. nov. The differences between A. gunneri and A. ninonae, two species usually confused in the literature, are reviewed. Amphicteis vestis is described from newly collected material and its taxonomy in relation to other ampharetid taxa with modified notopodia is discussed. Amphicteis wesenbergae sp. nov. is described; the new species is characterized by the presence of long, slender and evenly tapered paleae, and long dorsal cirri on thoracic and abdominal neuropodia. Several body characters with high value in Amphicteis taxonomy, particularly the dorsolateral protrusions of abdominal chaetigers called rudimentary notopodia, are reviewed using scanning electron microscopy. A key to species of the genus Amphicteis described or reported in European Boreo-Arctic waters is provided.

Keywords:

• Polychaeta
• Ampharetidae
• Amphicteis
• Iceland
• BIOICE

Acknowledgements

The senior author (J.P.) wishes to thank Danny Eibye-Jacobsen, Majken Them Tøttrup (ZMUC), Elin Sigvaldadóttir and Karin Sindemark (SMNH) for their help during his stay at both institutions. Igor Jirkov also acknowledges David Hall and Tim Worsfold, Unicomarine Ltd., Letchworth Hertfordshire, UK, for the loan of specimens of A. midas for examination. Special thanks to Solrun Bragadóttir and all the women of the SMC involved in sorting of specimens from the BIOICE samples. Ada Castro and Catalina Sueiro (SAIN, UDC) for assisting in the preparation of specimens and use of the SEM, David Romero (UDC) for the line drawings and Noela Sánchez (UDC) for the preparation of maps. Constructive comments by M. Schüller and B. Ebbe are gratefully acknowledged.

This work was partially supported by several grants from the European Union's TMR programme and the UDC and Xunta de Galicia to J.P. to visit the SMC. J.P. also gratefully acknowledges Synthesis support made available by the European Community – Research Infrastructure Action under the FP6 Structuring the European Research Area (Projects DK-TAF-3118 and SE-TAF-4599) to visit the Zoologisk Museum (Copenhagen), and the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Stockholm).

Notes

1. Most probably, this species does not belong to the genus Amphicteis (see Remarks section for this species).

2. Species not reported in Icelandic waters and not found among BIOICE material.