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.

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

“…Prior to this study, Hutchings and Glasby (1987) described some species of Thelepodinae from Lizard Island, but in this paper we describe six new species belonging to six genera within the newly erected families Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013, Thelepodidae Hessle, 1917and Trichobranchidae Malmgren, 1866(Nogueira et al 2013. Polychaetes are abundant around Lizard Island and on the Great Barrier Reef but they have been poorly documented and no comprehensive surveys have been carried out.…”

“…The family Telothelepodidae was erected recently (Nogueira et al 2013), including a group of genera which were previously considered as belonging to the Thelepodidae. The family is characterized by an upper lip distinctly longer than wide and very poorly developed neuropodia throughout.…”

“…Family Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013 Diagnosis. Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part of prostomium frequently with eyespots; distal part of prostomium low, restricted to base of upper lip, mid-dorsal process frequently present, elongate, partially attached to the upper lip or completely free.…”

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AbstractIn 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).

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Character mapping and cladogram comparison versus the requirement of total evidence: does it matter for polychaete systematics?

“…[4]), provides the conceptual link between our observation statements of the properties of organisms and the explanatory hypotheses referred to as taxa (Fitzhugh, 2005b(Fitzhugh, , 2008b(Fitzhugh, , 2009(Fitzhugh, , 2010b(Fitzhugh, , 2012(Fitzhugh, , 2013Nogueira et al, 2010Nogueira et al, , 2013. There are two aspects of this conceptual link that have been almost uniformly overlooked in systematics, especially with regard to developments of algorithms for phylogenetic inference: the why-questions related to our observations (cf.…”