João Miguel De Matos Nogueira

The continuing challenge of phylogenetic relationships in Terebelliformia (Annelida : Polychaeta)

Abstract. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Terebellidae and related families was undertaken. Type material of all genera of Terebellinae was examined, together with representatives of nearly all genera of remaining Terebellidae subfamilies, and representatives of the families that have been traditionally regarded as being closely related, comprising the Terebelliformia. In total, 85 species were coded using 118 subjects (‘characters’) and 286 subject–predicate relations (‘states’). The results indicate: (1) the paraphyly of Terebellidae by the placements of Trichobranchidae, Ampharetidae, Alvinellidae and Pectinariidae within that clade; (2) the occurrences of Thelepodinae as separate clades, consistent with groups ‘A’ and ‘B’ recognised by Nogueira et al. (2010a); and (3) the monophyly of Polycirrinae and Terebellinae. The previously considered subfamilies of Terebellidae are raised to familial level and a new family is described. Revised definitions are provided for: Terebelliformia, Polycirridae, stat. nov., Telothelepodidae, fam. nov., Terebellidae emend., and Thelepodidae, stat. nov., along with a discussion of character evolution in the Terebellidae.

A new species of Trypanosyllis (Polychaeta : Syllidae) from Brazil, with a redescription of Brazilian material of Trypanosyllis zebra

A new species of Trypanosyllis was found in a collection of polychaetes living on algae, sponges, ascidians and sabelariid reefs at the intertidal zone of a rocky shore, at Praia do Guarau, south-eastern Brazil. Trypanosyllis aurantiacus sp. nov., is characterized by having an orange body in life, with dark red antennae and cirri throughout, falcigers with short, sub-bidentate blades, and parapodia with thick, distally sharp, protruding aciculae, two to three aciculae on each anterior parapodium, two aciculae on midbody segments, single acicula per parapodium on posteriormost chaetigers. Trypanosyllis aurantiacus sp. nov., is compared with the most similar congeners and a redescription of Trypanosyllis zebra , based on Brazilian specimens collected from similar environments at nearby beaches, is given.

Comparative internal structure of dorsal lips and radiolar appendages in Sabellidae (Polychaeta) and phylogenetic implications.

Fan worms (Sabellidae) possess paired modified prostomial structures at the base of the radiolar crown, dorso‐lateral to the mouth, called dorsal lips. The dorsal lips are involved in the sorting of particles collected by the radiolar crown. The range of variation in the morphology of dorsal lips is extensive, and probably this is not only due to adaptations to different environments and feeding preferences but also due to phylogenetic constraints. In this study, we describe and compare the morphology of dorsal lips in a range of sabellid taxa based on histological cross‐sections of these structures, and compare our data and terminology with those of previous studies. Dorsal lips are maintained erect in most taxa by a modified radiole fused to them known as dorsal radiolar appendage. We suggest that dorsal radiolar appendages with an internal supporting axis (cellular or acellular) and probably also the ventral lips are synapomorphies of the family. J. Morphol., 2011.

A new species of Branchiomaldane (Polychaeta: Arenicolidae) from the State of São Paulo, south-eastern Brazil

A new species of Branchiomaldane was identified in a collection of polychaetes living in colonies of a stony coral. Branchiomaldane maryae sp. nov. differs from all other species of the genus by the presence of lensed eyes and 1–3 branchial filaments per parapodium. Comparisons between B. maryae sp. nov. and the other species of the genus are provided, together with some phylogenetic considerations on the position of the genus.

A new species of Syllis (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Syllinae) from off Fortaleza, north-eastern Brazil

In a study investigating the composition and spatial and temporal variation of the benthic macrofauna associated to the discharge of domestic sewage off Fortaleza, north-eastern Brazil, a new species of Syllis was found. This new species, S. guidae sp. nov., is characterized by having blades of falcigers with subdistal tooth about same length as distal tooth, but stouter than it, with spines on cutting edge almost reaching the tip of subdistal tooth, blades of falcigers with conspicuous subdistal triangular process and unusually long anal papilla between anal cirri, measuring about one-quarter of their length. Syllis guidae sp. nov., is herein described and compared with the most similar congeners.

Telothelepodidae, Thelepodidae and Trichobranchidae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

In a survey of the polychaetes of the Lizard Island region, six species of polychaetes belonging to the families Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013, Thelepodidae Hessle, 1917 and Trichobranchidae Malmgren, 1866 were found, from material collected during the Lizard Island Polychaete Taxonomic Workshop, and material collected by previous projects undertaken by the Australian Museum. This material includes one new species of Rhinothelepus Hutchings, 1974 (Telothelepodidae); one new species of each of the genera, Euthelepus McIntosh, 1885, Streblosoma Sars, 1872, and Thelepus Leuckart, 1849 (Thelepodidae); and one new species of Terebellides Sars, 1835 and another of Trichobranchus Malmgren, 1866 (Trichobranchidae). Keys for identification of these species are provided, together with full descriptions for all species, as well as comparisons with the morphologically most similar congeners.

Species of Odontosyllis Claparède, 1863 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Syllidae)

Two new species of Odontosyllis were found in samples collected mainly on rocky shores off the states of São Paulo (SE Brazil) and Paraíba (NE Brazil). Odontosyllis aracaensis sp. nov., and O. guarauensis sp. nov., are herein described and compared to their most similar congeners. A key for the species found in Brazil is provided, and relevant morphological characters of similar species of the genus, based on falcigers morphology, are summarized and compared with those of the newly described species. The current state of knowledge on the genus is briefly discussed.

The genus Prosphaerosyllis (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Exogoninae) in Brazil, with description of a new species

In studies carried out off the north-eastern and south-eastern coast of Brazil, three species of Prosphaerosyllis were found: P. isabellae , which was already recorded for Brazilian waters; P. xarifae , a newly recorded species for the area; and P. brachycephala sp. nov., a new to science species. Prosphaerosyllis brachycephala sp. nov., is characterized by having swollen anterior part of the body, prostomium retractable within the peristomium and anterior segments, short antennae, short peristomial and dorsal cirri, and falcigers with short, unidentate blades throughout. All these species are herein described and compared to the most similar congeners.

The genus Exogone (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from the Brazilian coast, with the description of a new species.

A new species of Exogone, E. gigas sp. n., is described herein, together with E. africana, E. arenosa, E. dispar, E. naidinoides, E. rolani, and E. simplex, collected along the Brazilian coast, including new morphological details. The distribution of E. breviantennata is expanded to include the states of Espírito Santo, Paraíba and Pernambuco. Exogone gigas sp. n. is characterized by having a large median antenna, the absence of dorsal cirri on chaetiger 2, and having a triangular process and minute spines on the shaft of the spiniger-like chaetae on chaetiger 2. The Brazilian specimens are compared to the morphologically most similar congeners. A key for the species described in this paper is provided.

The genus Haplosyllis Langerhans, 1879 (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from northeastern Brazil, with descriptions of two new species

Abstract Two new species of Haplosyllis collected along the coast off northeastern Brazil are described. Haplosyllis amphimedonicola sp. nov. lives in close association with the sponge Amphimedon viridis and is characterized by having midbody dorsal cirri alternating long (with 3–7 articles) and short (with 1–3 articles), with long cirri not reaching half the body width. Ciliated anus dorsally and pair of smooth to irregularly articulated anal cirri; chaetae bidentate, often with eroded tips, main fang about same length or shorter than shaft width, mid-joining point straight and long, upper side of main fang with few, short denticles. Haplosyllis rosenalessoae sp. nov. is characterized by having body wall of midbody to posterior chaetigers with internal iridescent and granulose inclusions, arranged in continuous transverse rows across chaetigers, broader laterally, at base of parapodia, progressively narrower towards dorsal mid-line. Bidentate chaetae, with long and pointed main fang, about same width as shaft, slightly stouter posteriorly. Chaetae on posterior parapodia with apical teeth very close to each other, nearly unidentate at first glance, upper side of main fang smooth; 2–3 aciculae in each midbody parapodium. A table comparing all valid species of Haplosyllis is provided.