ArticlePDF Available

Nephtyidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Sea of Marmara and Black Sea, with descriptions of two new species

  • October 2021
  • Zootaxa 5060(2):183-214
DOI:10.11646/zootaxa.5060.2.2
Authors:
Sevgi Kuş at Sinop Üniversitesi
Sevgi Kuş
Güley Kurt at Sinop Üniversitesi
Güley Kurt
Melih Ertan Çinar at Ege University
Melih Ertan Çinar
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation

Abstract

The present paper deals with the diversity of nephtyid polychaetes (Nephtyidae) from the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Three species belonging to two genera (Micronephthys and Nephtys) were found in the Black Sea (coast of Turkey) and six species belonging to three genera (Inermonephtys, Micronephthys and Nephtys) were found in the Sea of Marmara. The material includes two species new to science, Inermonephtys turcica n. sp. and Nephtys sinopensis n. sp., and a species record (Nephtys kersivalensis McIntosh, 1908) new to the Sea of Marmara's marine fauna. Nephtys sinopensis n. sp. is mainly characterized by having 1-4 geniculate chaetae in the postacicular position of the parapodia; digitiform antennae, palps, and ventral cirri at chaetiger 1 with swollen tips; small and cirriform branchiae present from chaetiger 4 to the end of the body; poorly developed parapodial prechaetal lamellae in median and posterior chaetigers and long ventral cirri along the body. Inermonephtys turcica n. sp. is mainly characterized by having cushion-like palps with digitiform tips; well developed neuropodial postchaetal lamellae; barred chaetae in preacicular position of the anterior and median parapodia; and branchiae first appearing between chaetiger 3 and 13 (depending on body size).
Content uploaded by Güley Kurt
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Güley Kurt on Oct 29, 2021
Content may be subject to copyright.
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition)
Accepted by J. Williams: 29 Sept. 2021; published: 29 Oct. 2021 183
Zootaxa 5060 (2): 183–214
https://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Copyright © 2021 Magnolia Press Article
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5060.2.2
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:081DB1D0-CD1D-4B53-ADD8-F2831A67A419
Nephtyidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Sea of Marmara and Black Sea, with
descriptions of two new species
SEVGI KUŞ1*, GÜLEY KURT2 & MELIH ERTAN ÇINAR3
1Sinop University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sinop, Turkey
2Sinop University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Sinop, Turkey
�
gkurt@sinop.edu.tr; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9996-4365
3Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Hydrobiology, Izmir, Turkey
�
melih.cinar@ege.edu.tr; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1802-2801
*Corresponding author.
�
kus.sevgi@gmail.com; http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3336-3444
Abstract
The present paper deals with the diversity of nephtyid polychaetes (Nephtyidae) from the Sea of Marmara and the Black
Sea. Three species belonging to two genera (Micronephthys and Nephtys) were found in the Black Sea (coast of Turkey)
and six species belonging to three genera (Inermonephtys, Micronephthys and Nephtys) were found in the Sea of Marmara.
The material includes two species new to science, Inermonephtys turcica n. sp. and Nephtys sinopensis n. sp., and a
species record (Nephtys kersivalensis McIntosh, 1908) new to the Sea of Marmara’s marine fauna. Nephtys sinopensis
n. sp. is mainly characterized by having 1–4 geniculate chaetae in the postacicular position of the parapodia; digitiform
antennae, palps, and ventral cirri at chaetiger 1 with swollen tips; small and cirriform branchiae present from chaetiger
4 to the end of the body; poorly developed parapodial prechaetal lamellae in median and posterior chaetigers and long
ventral cirri along the body. Inermonephtys turcica n. sp. is mainly characterized by having cushion-like palps with
digitiform tips; well developed neuropodial postchaetal lamellae; barred chaetae in preacicular position of the anterior and
median parapodia; and branchiae first appearing between chaetiger 3 and 13 (depending on body size).
Key words: Inermonephtys, Nephtys, new records, new species, Polychaetes, Turkey
Introduction
Worms belonging to the family Nephtyidae Grube, 1850 generally live in soft substrata, including fine sand or sandy
muds (Hartman 1950; Pettibone 1963; Beesley et al. 2000; Rouse & Pleijel 2001). They are mostly distributed in
shallow-waters, but bathyal and abyssal species are also known (Kirkegaard 1956, 1983; Hancock 1969). The family
contains four genera (Aglaophamus Kinberg, 1866, Inermonephtys Fauchald, 1968, Micronephthys Friedrich, 1939,
Nephtys Cuvier, 1817) and 144 valid species worldwide (Read & Fauchald 2020). To date, twenty-two species from
the Mediterranean Sea, ten species from the Sea of Marmara and nine species from the Black Sea were reported
(Rullier 1963; Campoy 1982; Arvanitidis 2000; Kiseleva 2004; Laborda 2004; Castelli et al. 2008; Abd-Elnaby
2009; Coll et al. 2010; Ravara et al. 2010; Kurt-Şahin & Çinar 2012; Çinar et al. 2014; Mikac 2015; Kuş & Kurt-
Şahin 2016; Faulwetter et al. 2017; Kurt-Şahin et al. 2017a, b; Bakalem et al. 2020; Dnestrovskaya 2020). The
number of species reported so far is an underestimate as no detailed study regarding the taxonomy of the family
has been carried out in these regions. However, Dnestrovskaya (2020) recently provided an illustrated key to all
nephtyid species reported from the Black Sea.
In the present paper, we aimed to assess the diversity of Nephtyidae in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea
coast of Turkey. All species found in these regions were described and compared with the original and subsequent
descriptions of these species. In total, six species of Nephtyidae were described: Inermonephtys turcica n. sp.;
Micronephthys longicornis (Perejaslavtseva, 1891); Nephtys hombergii Savigny in Lamarck, 1818; Nephtys incisa
Malmgren, 1865; Nephtys kersivalensis McIntosh, 1908 and Nephtys sinopensis n. sp.
Polychaetes (Annelida) of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea): An Updated and Annotated Checklist Including New Distribution Records
Article
Full-text available
The diversity and distribution of polychaetes in the coastal area and the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus is presented based on both the literature records and new data acquired in a wide range of environmental monitoring programmes and research projects. A total of 585 polychaete species belonging to 49 families were reported in Cyprus waters; among them, 205 species (34%) were recorded based on the literature only, 149 (26%) were new records based on our own data, and a total of 231 spp. (40%) were recorded from both the literature and new data. A total of 51 polychaete species were identified as non-indigenous; among them, 32 were confirmed as alien species, 4 were considered cryptogenic, and 15 were considered questionable as there were doubts about their identity. The Indo-Pacific Schistomeringos loveni was reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while four species already reported in the literature, namely, Bispira melanostigma, Fimbriosthenelais longipinnis Leonnates aylaoberi, and Rhodopsis pusilla, were added to the list of non-indigenous polychaetes in the Mediterranean Sea. The current work highlights the importance of implementing environmental monitoring programmes and carrying out research surveys targeting benthic macrofauna assemblages.
View
Inventory and the biogeographical affinities of Annelida Polychaeta in the Algerian coastline (Western Mediterranean)
Article
Full-text available
  • Apr 2020
The data analyzed to inventory of all polychaetes in Algerian waters make it possible to estimate the diversity of this group to 534 species. The most diversified families are Syllidae (66 species), Spionidae (37 species) and Terebellidae (27 species).The presence of these listed species along the Algerian coast is compared with their occurrence in nine other areas of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Black Sea and in four other areas of the World Ocean. Comparison are also made with respect to the indications of the biogeographical origin for each species. The polychaete fauna of the Algerian coast is among the richest of the Mediterranean Sea and comparable to that reported for the French Mediterranean continental shelf and the Aegean Sea, but higher that that found in the bordering coastlines of Morocco and Tunisia. Most of the species have an Atlantic origin and are present in the western Mediterranean Sea; this inventory includes eight Non-Indigenous Polychaete Species in the Algerian waters.
View
Identification key to Nephtyidae (Annelida) of the Black Sea
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2020
Currently, nine species of Nephtyidae (Annelida) are known from the Black Sea. A new user-friendly identification key is presented with a brief description for each species based on type material and recently collected specimens from the Black Sea.
View
Polychaetes of Greece: An updated and annotated checklist
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2017
Background: The last annotated checklist of marine polychaetes in Greece was published in 2001. Since then, global taxonomic progress, combined with many new species records for Greece, required a thorough review of the taxonomic, nomenclatural and biogeographic status of the national species list. This checklist revises the status of all extant polychaete species reported from the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone since 1832. The work was undertaken as part of the efforts on compiling a national species inventory (Greek Taxon Information System initiative) in the framework of the LifeWatchGreece Research Infrastructure. New information: This checklist comprises an updated and annotated inventory of polychaete species in Greek waters, compiled from literature reports, online databases, museum collections and unpublished datasets. The list provides information on 836 species-level taxa from Greece, of which 142 are considered questionable. An additional 84 species reported in the past are currently considered absent from Greece; reasons for the exclusion of each species are given. Fourteen species are reported here for the first time from Greek waters. At least 52 species in the present list constitute in fact a complex of cryptic or pseudo-cryptic species. Forty-seven species are considered non-native to the area. In addition to the species-level taxa reported in this checklist, eleven genera have been recorded from Greece with no representatives identified to species level. One replacement name is introduced. For each species, a comprehensive bibliographic list of occurrence records in Greece and the synonyms used in these publications are provided as supplementary material. Where necessary, the taxonomic, nomenclatural or biogeographic status is discussed. Finally, the findings are discussed in the wider context of Mediterranean polychaete biogeography, taxonomic practice and worldwide research progress.
View
View
Macrozoobenthic community structure of İğneada region in Turkey (the southwestern Black Sea)
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2017
The present study deals with macrozoobenthic species on soft substrates in İğneada (Turkish coast of the Black Sea). Benthic samples were collected seasonally at three stations between 2012 and 2013. A total of 155 species belonging to seven taxa (Turbellaria, Nemertea, Nematoda, Oligochaeta, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Phoronida, Mollusca, Hemichordata) were identified. Of these, four species are new records for the Black Sea fauna, 15 species are new to the Turkish coast of the Black Sea; and two species are new to the Turkish Seas. Polychaeta was the most representative taxon in the study area – it was represented by 58 species (39% of the total number of species). In terms of the number of individuals, Mollusca were the dominant taxon in all seasons (82% of the total number of individuals). The most dominant species were Bittium reticulatum and Caecum trachea and the most frequent species were Micronephtys stammeri, B. reticulatum and Chamelea gallina.
View
Temporal Changes in the Polychaeta (Annelida) Community Associated with Cystoseira Beds of Sinop Peninsula (Southern Black Sea)
Article
Full-text available
  • Feb 2016
In order to determine seasonal trends of Polychaeta fauna associated with Cystoseira (C. barbata and C. crinita) facies along the Sinop Peninsula (Black Sea), a total of 9 stations were selected and sampled with scuba diving between October 2013 and July 2014, seasonally. The results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of samples, 39 species and 10,199 individuals belong to 17 families were identified. Among them, Sabellaria spinulosa (Leuckart, 1849) was firstly reported from the Turkish Black Sea coast. Syllidae was the most representative family in the area. The most dominant and frequent species were Platynereis dumerillii (Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833) and Salvotoria clavata (Claparéde, 1863). The maximum number of species (27 species) was observed in autumn, the highest mean number of individuals (27,441.7 ind.m-2) was counted in spring. The correlation between polychaete community associated with Cystoseira beds and environmental variables was strongly high (r= 0.90) according to Canonical Correspondence Analysis.
View
Le règne animal distribué d'après son organisation: Pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée
Book
  • Jun 2015
French zoologist and naturalist Georges Cuvier (1769–1832), one of the most eminent scientific figures of the early nineteenth century, is best known for laying the foundations of comparative anatomy and palaeontology. He spent his lifetime studying the anatomy of animals, and broke new ground by comparing living and fossil specimens - many he uncovered himself. However, Cuvier always opposed evolutionary theories and was during his day the foremost proponent of catastrophism, a doctrine contending that geological changes were caused by sudden cataclysms. He received universal acclaim when he published his monumental Le règne animal, which made significant advances over the Linnaean taxonomic system of classification and arranged animals into four large groups. The sixteen-volume English translation and expansion, The Animal Kingdom (1827–35), is also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection. First published in 1817, Volume 1 of the original version covers mammals and birds.
View
Redescription of Micronephthys longicornis (Perejaslavtseva, 1891) (Annelida: Nephtyidae)
Article
  • Jan 2019
Micronephthys longicornis (Perejaslavtseva, 1891) is re-described on the base of topotypes. The distinguishing characters are: dentate barred chaetae with a peak in center of each bar (on first notopodia only), presence of two pairs of visible subdermal coalesced eyes middorsally in C3, branchiae absent; lyrate chaetae with unequal rami. It is shown that Micronephthys stammeri (Augener, 1932) should be accepted as its junior synonym.
View
Nephtyidae (Polychaeta, Phyllodocida) from the Red Sea, with record of a new species
Article
  • Aug 2017
Six nephtyid species were identified from samples collected off the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Two of these species had been previously reported for the Red Sea ( Inermonephtys aff. inermis , Nephtys palatii ), three are new records ( Aglaophamus lobatus , A . cf. verrilli , Micronephthys stammeri ) and one is new to science ( Inermonephtys aramco ). Inermonephtys aramco was collected in the southern region of the Red Sea at depths between 60 and 83 m. It is characterized by the presence of branchiae from chaetiger 15 or 16, well-developed parapodial prechaetal lamellae, broadly rounded notopodial postchaetal lamellae and rudimentary neuropodial postchaetal lamellae. The species Nephtys palatii is transferred to the genus Micronephthys . Based on the current finding, the previously known bathymetric range of Micronephthys stammeri is extended from 4–7 to 17 m, and occurrence depths for N. palatii are given for the first time (4–90 m). Full descriptions are included for all species except M. stammeri . An identification key for all the species known to occur in the Red Sea is provided.
View
View