Scale worms (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) associated with cold-water corals in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

During a recent cruise to investigate the cold-water coral habitats in the eastern Gulf of Mexico seven scale worm species (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) were found, with four of them new to science:Laetmonice tunicatasp. nov. (Aphroditidae);Eunoe purpureaTreadwell, 1936,Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae(Fauvel, 1913),Harmothoe dannyisp. nov.,Harmothoe cedricisp. nov. andSubadyte campechensissp. nov. (Polynoidae); andLeanira robustaVerrill, 1885 (Sigalionidae). An extended taxonomic account is given for all species, with detailed descriptions and figures for the new species. Three of the five polynoid species were found associated with a coral host:E. purpureawithBathypathescf.alternataBrook, 1898 (Antipatharia);G. caeciliaewithAcanthogorgia armataVerrill, 1878 andCandidella imbricata(Johnson, 1862) (Octocorallia) andH. dannyisp. nov. withStylaster erubescensPourtalès, 1868 (Hydrozoa). These associations are characterized in detail and documented byin situROV pictures and microscopic images and videos of the live animals, together with their respective host.

Taxonomy, distribution and ecology of the order Phyllodocida (Annelida, Polychaeta) in deep-sea habitats around the Iberian margin

“…This species was initially described from the Bay of Biscay and later also found off Portugal and around Madeira, Canary and Cape Verde Islands, always associated with gorgonians (Fauvel, 1913;Hartmann-Schröder, 1985). Pettibone (1991) further extended its distribution to the western Atlantic and recognized its association with octocorals of the families Acanthogorgiidae and Primnoidae (also confirmed by Barnich et al, 2013). The specimens examined herein were taken from a sample also containing acanthogorgiid and primnoid gorgonians and extend the bathymetric distribution of the species from 1543 to ca.…”

“…Gorgoniapolynoe caeciliae (Fauvel, 1913) Polynoe caeciliae Fauvel, 1913: 24 Primnoidae (Barnich et al, 2013;Britayev et al, 2014;Pettibone, 1991; this study).…”

Ecological adaptations and commensal evolution of the Polynoidae (Polychaeta) in the Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge: A phylogenetic approach

“…and Isididae corals. Several species of Gorgonyapolynoe live inside tunnels or galleries formed by highly modified sclerites of primnoid corals or by an overgrowing of the coenenchymal walls of hydrocoral and gorgonian hosts, which seem to have been caused by the presence of the commensals (Bayer, 1964;Pettibone, 1991a;Eckelbarger et al, 2005;Barnich et al, 2013;Britayev et al, 2014). For these species, it has been hypothesised that the commensal behaviour coupled with high prevalence and wide distribution on the same host (e.g.…”

Updating the current knowledge on the relationships between Haplosyllis chamaeleon Laubier, 1960 (Annelida, Syllidae) and Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) (Cnidaria, Plexauridae) in the Mediterranean Sea

“…Anthozoans, including sea-fans, often host organisms seeking for shelter (Molodtsova et al 2016), food and/or reproductive success (Goh et al 1999). Amongst them (Patton 1972;Goh et al 1999;Dias et al 2015), there are either sessile species like sponges (Calcinai et al 2013) and hydroids (Puce et al 2008;Seveso et al 2016;Pica et al 2017) or vagile species like crustaceans (Ponti et al 2016;Valisano et al 2016) and polychaetes Britayev 1998, 2018;Glasby and Watson 2001;Barnich et al 2013;Britayev et al 2014;Carvalho et al 2014;Cúrdia et al 2015;Martin et al 2002;Nygren and Pleijel 2010).…”