The Terebelliformia-Recent Developments and Future Directions

Abstract

Terebelliformia comprises a large group of sedentary polychaetes which live from the intertidal to the deep sea. The majority live in tubes and are selective deposit feeders. This study synthesises the current knowledge of this group, including their distribution, in the different biogeographic regions. We highlight the new methodologies being used to describe them and the resolution of species complexes occurring in the group. The main aim of this review is to highlight the knowledge gaps and to stimulate research in those directions, which will allow for knowledge of their distribution and abundances to be used by ecologists and managers.

The “Spaghetti Project”: the final identification guide to European Terebellidae (sensu lato) (Annelida, Terebelliformia)

“…Thus, comparison between new material and type material is difficult. Referring to original descriptions is not helpful either; they are usually very brief with inadequate figures, and could correspond to several species because of the lack taxonomic details (Hutchings et al 2021a(Hutchings et al , 2021b.…”

“…These tubiculous polychaetes are characterised by the presence of numerous grooved buccal tentacles used for selective deposit feeding, rendering these animals the name of "Spaghetti worms" (Hutchings et al 2021b). These tentacles are of prostomial origin and not retractable into the mouth.…”

“…They are generally smooth, except for in some polycirrids where they are papillose. Most of the terebellids are sedentary worms found in all marine environments, from the intertidal to the abyss and are common worldwide, distributed from polar to tropical regions (Hutchings et al 2021b). The five families belonging to Terebellidae (s.l.…”

“…The five families belonging to Terebellidae (s.l. ) can be separated from each other by the morphology of the upper lip, the shape and number of branchiae, the glandular areas of ventral segments, the neuropodia and the arrangement of the uncini of anterior segments (i.e., in single or double rows) (Hutchings et al 2021b).…”

Segmented worms (Phylum Annelida): a celebration of twenty years of progress through Zootaxa and call for action on the taxonomic work that remains

“…Prolific taxonomic work on Terebellidae s.l. has occurred in the last few decades (Hutchings et al 2021) and several contributions by Hutchings, Nogueira, and Carrerette on the terebelliforms from Brazil and Australia were published in Zootaxa (e.g., Carrerette & Nogueira 2013;Nogueira et al 2015a, b). Some syllid Zootaxa contributions include Nygren (2004) on Autolytinae with five new genera and five new species and more recently Maciolek (2020) with descriptions of 16 new species of Anguillosyllis Day, 1963 from deepwater sediments.…”