The identification of magelonids with mucronate chaetae on chaetiger 9 has long been confused. Until 1977 all corresponding European specimens were erroneously referred to Magelona papillicornis; a Brazilian species. Since then, but without any detailed study, the name M. mirabilis (originally given to a species from Scotland) has been widely employed. However, in recent years, it has become clear that two morphologically similar species coexist in European waters. Magelona mirabilis is redescribed and a neotype designated, and M. johnstoni sp. nov. is formally distinguished. Following re-examination of the other five species present in the region, a dichotomous key and a synoptic table of characters is provided for all seven European species.

The second paper of the series about Ampharetidae from Japan includes twelve species of four genera with elevated and modified notopodia,

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Abstract.  During two expeditions with RV ‘Meteor’ in summer 1993 and winter 1997/98 the structural and functional diversity of the benthic system of the highly oligotrophic eastern Mediterranean deep sea was investigated. The macrofauna communities were dominated by polychaetes even at the deepest stations. The fauna at shallow stations was dominated by surface deposit feeders, whereas subsurface deposit feeders and predators generally increased with depth. A high percentage of suspension‐feeding Porifera was found in the Levantine Basin. Mean abundance and number of taxa of both expeditions were significantly correlated to depth and distance to the nearest coast as well as to the total organic carbon (TOC) content in sediments. Numbers of taxa and abundance decreased generally with depth, although lowest numbers were not found at the deepest stations but in the extremely oligotrophic Levantine and Ierapetra Basin. Biomass measured during the second cruise was extremely low in the Ierapetra Basin and comparable to other extreme oligotrophic seas. The significant correlations found for TOC contents and macrofauna with distance to coast during both expeditions apparently reflect the role of hydrographically governed transport of organic matter produced in coastal regions into greater and extreme depths of the Mediterranean Sea. Seasonal differences in macrofauna communities due to seasonal differences in food supply were not found. However, recent large‐scale hydrographic changes (Eastern Mediterranean Transient, EMT) might change the oligotrophy and, thus, the structure of the benthic communities in the Eastern Mediterranean deep sea.

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