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.

The morphology of terebelliform polychaetes was investigated for a phylogenetic study focused on Terebellidae. For this study, specimens belonging to 147 taxa, preferably type material or specimens from type localities or areas close to them, were examined under stereo, light and scanning electron microscopes. The taxa examined were 1 Pectinariidae, 2 Ampharetidae, 2 Alvinellidae, 8 Trichobranchidae, and 134 Terebellidae, which included 8 Polycirrinae, 15 Thelepodinae, and 111 Terebellinae. A comparison of the morphology, including prostomium, peristomium, anterior segments and lobes, branchiae, glandular venter, nephridial and genital papillae, notopodia and notochaetae, neuropodia and neurochaetae, and posterior end, was made of all the currently recognized families of terebelliform polychaetes, with special emphasis on Terebellidae. A discussion of the characters useful to distinguish between genera is given. This character set will be used in a subsequent phylogenetic study (Nogueira & Hutchings in prep.)A morfologia de poliquetas terebeliformes foi analisada para um estudo filogenético focado em Terebellidae. Para esse estudo, foram examinados espécimes pertencentes a 147 táxons, sob estereomicroscópio, microscópio óptico e microscópio eletrônico de varredura, preferencialmente material tipo ou espécimes das localidades tipo, ou de suas proximidades. Os táxons examinados foram 1 Pectinariidae, 2 Ampharetidae, 2 Alvinellidae, 8 Trichobranchidae e 134 Terebellidae, dos quais 8 Polycirrinae, 15 Thelepodinae e 111 Terebellinae. Para este estudo, foi feita a comparação entre a morfologia das famílias de poliquetas terebeliformes atualmente reconhecidas, com especial ênfase em Terebellidae, em relação ao prostômio, peristômio, segmentos anteriores e lobos, brânquias, superfície glandular ventral, papilas nefridiais e genitais, notopódios e notocerdas, neuropódios e neurocerdas, e extremidade posterior. Uma discussão dos caracteres úteis para distinguir os gêneros é fornecida. Este conjunto de caracteres será utilizado para um estudo filogenético subseqüente (Nogueira & Hutchings em preparação).

No abstract

Colonies of Mussismilia hispida were collected in four south-eastern Brazil islands and fixed in formalin. Volume, living and basal areas of each coral head were measured. Animals found over, under and inside the corals were sorted, resulting in 9657 specimens belonging to more than 130 taxa. The underside of the colonies was occupied by bivalves and colonial forms of sponges, bryozoans and ascidians. On the living surface, barnacles and cryptochiridean crabs were detected. The endolithic animals included polychaetes, bivalves and sipunculid worms. Most of the animals collected were vagile microcrustaceans. In general, the corals in this ecosystem: (1) act as a nursery place for the community; (2) provide protection for many species also found in other habitats; (3) support a community mainly omnivorous and detritivorous; (4) are initially colonised randomly.
Colônias de Mussismilia hispida foram coletadas em quatro ilhas do sudeste brasileiro e fixadas em formalina. Depois de medidos o volume e as areas vivas e da base de cada coral, os animais encontrados sobre, dentro e sob as colônias foram triados, resultando em 9657 espécimes, pertencentes a cerca de 130 espécies. As bases das colônias encontravam-se ocupadas por bivalves e colônias de esponjas, briozoários e ascídias; na superfície viva, cirripédios e "caranguejos-galha" se fizeram presentes; a fauna endolítica incluiu poliquetas, bivalves e sipúnculos. Crustáceos vágeis, tais como copépodes, isópodes, anfípodes, tanaidáceos e ostrácodes responderam pela maioria dos animais encontrados. De maneira geral, pode-se dizer que os corais neste ambientes: (1) atuam como um local protegido para a reprodução das espécies associadas; (2) fornecem abrigo a muitas espécies também encontradas em outros ambientes; (3) sustentam uma comunidade que se alimenta principalmente de bactérias, detritos e do muco dos corais; (4) são inicialmente colonizados ao acaso

We describe herein ten species of Syllidae from the Southern Brazil continental slope (700-2000 m deep), belonging to the genera Anguillosyllis, Exogone, Parexogone, Prosphaerosyllis, Sphaerosyllis and Syllis. Out of those, three species are new to science and six are formally reported for Brazil for the first time. Some synonymies are proposed and a taxonomic key for all described species of the genus Anguillosyllis is provided.