WoRMS source details
Núñez, J., Martínez, A. & Brito, M.C. (2009) A new species of Sphaerosyllis Claparède, 1863 (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Exogoninae) from the Atlantida Tunnel, Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Marine Biodiversity, 39 (3), 209-214.
176525
10.1007/s12526-009-0026-3 [view]
Núñez, J.; Martínez, A.; Brito, M. C.
2009
A new species of <i>Sphaerosyllis</i> Claparède, 1863 (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Exogoninae) from the Atlantida Tunnel
Lanzarote, Canary Islands. <i>Marine Biodiversity</i
39(3): 209-214
Publication
A new species of Sphaerosyllis (Syllidae, Exogoninae), S. iliffei n. sp., is described from interstitial habitats of Montaña de Arena in the Atlantida Tunnel, a marine lava tube of La Corona volcano (Lanzarote, Canary Islands). The new species is characterized by lacking eyes, parapodia bearing four heterogomph compound falcigers with blade lengths decreasing from dorsalmost to ventralmost, and one supra-acicular simple chaeta distally serrated from first chaetiger. Females brood eggs ventrally, attached juveniles occurs to chaetiger 12. Males have long ventral cirri from chaetiger 13 backwards, without natatory chaetae. Sphaerosyllis iliffei n. sp. is the first record of a troglobitic Syllidae, with its unpigmented body, the apparent absence of eyes, and the females ventrally brooding a single embryo.
Canary Islands
Systematics, Taxonomy
Date
action
by
Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009 (original description)
Holotype TFMC AN/000224, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype TFMC AN/000225, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype TFMC AN/000226, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype Dzull PO/LA032008, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype TFMC AN/000225, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype TFMC AN/000226, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Paratype Dzull PO/LA032008, geounit Canary Islands, identified as Sphaerosyllis iliffei Núñez, Martínez & Brito, 2009
Distribution
Canary Islands, Lanzarote, Montaña de Arena, Atlantida Tunnel. Known only from the type locality. [details]
Etymology
The species is named in honour of Thomas M. Iliffe, one of the collectors of the specimens, in recognition of his ... [details]
Habitat
Coarse sand with 0.53-0.55% organic matter, and 86.3-93.1% carbonates, in a marine lava tube. [details]
Morphology
Sexual dimorphism exists, with males with ventral cirri characteristically slender and longer than parapodia from ... [details]
Reproduction
The reproduction method includes ventral egg incubation and juvenile development while attached ventrally. Each ... [details]
Type locality
Canary Islands, Lanzarote, Montaña de Arena, Atlantida Tunnel, Jameos del Agua (geocoordinates not provided, ... [details]
