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Nereis Linnaeus, 1758

129379 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:129379)

  1. Biota
  2. Animalia (Kingdom)
  3. Annelida (Phylum)
  4. Polychaeta (Class)
  5. Errantia (Subclass)
  6. Phyllodocida (Order)
  7. Nereidiformia (Suborder)
  8. Nereididae (Family)
  9. Nereidinae (Subfamily)
  10. Nereis (Genus)
accepted
Genus
Nereis pelagica Linnaeus, 1758 (type by subsequent designation)
Nereidae Blainville, 1818
 Nereidinae Blainville, 1818
Nereidinae Blainville, 1818
Heteronereis Örsted, 1843 · unaccepted (To Nereis, but metamorphosed...)  
To Nereis, but metamorphosed adults of various genera
Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (currently disused nominal subgenus)

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  1. Species Nereis caparti Fauvel, 1953
  2. Species Nereis coutieri Gravier, 1899
  3. Species Nereis dakarensis Fauvel, 1951
  4. Species Nereis falcaria (Willey, 1905)
  5. Species Nereis filicaudata Fauvel, 1951
  6. Species Nereis funchalensis (Langerhans, 1880)
  7. Species Nereis granulata Day, 1957
  8. Species Nereis holochaeta Intes & Le Loeuff, 1975
  9. Species Nereis jacksoni Kinberg, 1865
  10. Species Nereis lamellosa Ehlers, 1868
  11. Species Nereis pelagica Linnaeus, 1758
  12. Species Nereis persica Fauvel, 1911
  13. Species Nereis splendida Grube, 1840
  14. Species Nereis victoriana Augener, 1918
  15. Species Nereis zonata Malmgren, 1867
  16. Subgenus Nereis (Nereilepas) [auct. misspelling for Nereilepa] (uncertain > nomen dubium)
    1. Species Nereis (Nereilepas) stimpsonis Grube, 1866 accepted as Pseudonereis podocirra (Schmarda, 1861) (subjective synonym)
  17. Species Nereis cylindraria Pallas, 1766 (uncertain > nomen dubium, suppressed (ICZN) nominal parent of Nereis cylindraria belgica)
  18. Species Nereis fusifera Quatrefages, 1866 (uncertain > taxon inquirendum, indeterminable from description?)
  19. Species Nereis mendax Stimpson, 1855 (uncertain > taxon inquirendum, indeterminable, type possibly lost)
  20. Subgenus Nereis (Alitta) (Kinberg, 1865) accepted as Alitta Kinberg, 1865 (superseded as subgenus rank)
    1. Species Nereis (Alitta) agnesiae Augener, 1918 accepted as Neanthes agnesiae (Augener, 1918) (superseded original combination)
  21. Subgenus Nereis (Ceratonereis) Kinberg, 1865 accepted as Ceratonereis Kinberg, 1865 (upgraded to original genus rank)
    1. Species Nereis (Ceratonereis) dualaensis Augener, 1918 accepted as Composetia dualaensis (Augener, 1918) (superseded original combination)
    2. Species Nereis (Ceratonereis) rolasiensis Augener, 1918 accepted as Ceratonereis (Composetia) rolasiensis (Augener, 1918) (superseded original combination with subgeneric assignment uncertain)
  22. Subgenus Nereis (Neanthes) Kinberg, 1865 accepted as Neanthes Kinberg, 1865 (superseded subsequent rank change)
    1. Species Nereis (Neanthes) heteroculata Hartmann-Schröder, 1981
    2. Species Nereis (Neanthes) agulhana Day, 1963 accepted as Neanthes agulhana (Day, 1963) (superseded original combination)
    3. Species Nereis (Neanthes) indica Kinberg, 1865 accepted as Neanthes indica (Kinberg, 1865) (superseded subsequent combination)
    4. Species Nereis (Neanthes) mossambica Day, 1957 accepted as Neanthes mossambica (Day, 1957) (superseded original combination)
    5. Species Nereis (Neanthes) operta Stimpson, 1856 accepted as Neanthes operta (Stimpson, 1855) (rank variant of superseded original combination)
    6. Species Nereis (Neanthes) papillosa Day, 1963 accepted as Neanthes papillosa (Day, 1963) (superseded original combination)
    7. Species Nereis (Neanthes) succinea Leuckart, 1847 accepted as Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) (superseded original combination with subgeneric attribution)
  23. Subgenus Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758 accepted as Nereis Linnaeus, 1758 (currently disused nominal subgenus)
    1. Species Nereis (Nereis) gilchristi Day, 1967
  24. Subgenus Nereis (Platynereis) (Kinberg, 1865) accepted as Platynereis Kinberg, 1865 (superseded recombination to subgenus)
    1. Species Nereis (Platynereis) hewitti Day, 1934 accepted as Platynereis calodonta Kinberg, 1865 (subjective synonym)
  25. Species Nereis anomala (Gravier, 1901) accepted as Pseudonereis anomala Gravier, 1899 (superseded recombination)
  26. Species Nereis atlantica McIntosh, 1885 accepted as Perinereis atlantica (McIntosh, 1885) (superseded original combination)
  27. Species Nereis caudata (sensu Delle Chiaje, 1827) accepted as Neanthes acuminata (Ehlers, 1868) (based on a misidentification)
  28. Species Nereis costae Grube, 1840 accepted as Composetia costae (Grube, 1840) (unaccepted > superseded combination, superseded original combination)
  29. Species Nereis coutierei [sensu Gravier, 1902] accepted as Nereis coutieri Gravier, 1899 (misspelling in repeat publication (as coutierei) of original coutieri)
  30. Species Nereis diversicolor O.F. Müller, 1776 accepted as Hediste diversicolor (O.F. Müller, 1776) (superseded original combination)
  31. Species Nereis erythraeensis (Fauvel, 1918) accepted as Simplisetia erythraeensis (Fauvel, 1918) (superseded recombination)
  32. Species Nereis falsa Quatrefages, 1866 accepted as Nereis splendida Grube, 1840 (subjective synonym)
  33. Species Nereis gisserana (Horst, 1924) accepted as Neanthes rubicunda (Ehlers, 1868) (superseded combination of synonym)
  34. Species Nereis glandulosa Ehlers, 1908 accepted as Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) (subjective synonym)
  35. Species Nereis indica Kinberg, 1865 accepted as Neanthes indica (Kinberg, 1865) (superseded original combination)
  36. Species Nereis kauderni Fauvel, 1921 accepted as Nereis falcaria (Willey, 1905) (subjective synonym)
  37. Species Nereis latipalpa Schmarda, 1861 accepted as Perinereis latipalpa (Schmarda, 1861) (superseded original combination)
  38. Species Nereis maroccensis [auct. misspelling] accepted as Nereis moroccensis Amoureux, 1976 accepted as Nereis funchalensis (Langerhans, 1880) (unaccepted > misspelling - incorrect subsequent spelling, misspelling of moroccensis in Solis-Weiss et al. 2004)
  39. Species Nereis mirabilis (Kinberg, 1865) accepted as Ceratonereis mirabilis Kinberg, 1865 (superseded recombination)
  40. Species Nereis moroccensis Amoureux, 1976 accepted as Nereis funchalensis (Langerhans, 1880) (subjective synonym)
  41. Species Nereis mossambica Day, 1957 accepted as Neanthes mossambica (Day, 1957) (superseded alternate representation of original combination)
  42. Species Nereis operta Stimpson, 1855 accepted as Neanthes operta (Stimpson, 1855) (superseded original combination)
  43. Species Nereis pachychaeta (Fauvel, 1918) accepted as Neanthes pachychaeta (Fauvel, 1918) (superseded recombination)
  44. Species Nereis polyodonta Schmarda, 1861 accepted as Neanthes operta (Stimpson, 1855) (subjective synonym)
  45. Species Nereis retrodentata Quatrefages, 1866 accepted as Neanthes operta (Stimpson, 1855) (subjective synonym)
  46. Species Nereis stimpsonis Grube, 1866 accepted as Pseudonereis podocirra (Schmarda, 1861) (rank variant of subjective synonym)
  47. Species Nereis trifasciata Grube, 1878 accepted as Neanthes trifasciata (Grube, 1878) (superseded original combination, disused subgenus abandoned)
  48. Species Nereis unifasciata Willey, 1905 accepted as Neanthes unifasciata (Willey, 1905) (superseded original combination)
  49. Species Nereis willey [auct. misspelling] accepted as Neanthes willeyi (Day, 1934) (misspelling for willeyi)
  50. Species Nereis willeyi Day, 1934 accepted as Neanthes willeyi (Day, 1934) (superseded original combination of replacement name)
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
recent only
feminine
Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 654 [details] Available for editors  PDF available

(of Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors  PDF available
Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2025). World Polychaeta Database. Nereis Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: Odido, M.; Appeltans, W.; BelHassen, M.; Mussai, P.; Nsiangango, S.E.; Vandepitte, L.; Wambiji, N.; Zamouri, N. Jiddou, A.M. (Eds) (2025) African Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/afremas/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129379 on 2026-08-17
Odido, M.; Appeltans, W.; BelHassen, M.; Mussai, P.; Nsiangango, S.E.; Vandepitte, L.; Wambiji, N.; Zamouri, N. Jiddou, A.M. (Eds) (2026). African Register of Marine Species. Nereis Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed at: https://marinespecies.org/afremas/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129379 on 2026-08-17
Date
action
by
2004-12-21 15:54:05Z
created
Bellan, Gérard
2006-07-14 15:54:19Z
changed
Vanden Berghe, Edward
2008-03-04 06:49:09Z
changed
Decock, Wim
2008-03-26 11:36:43Z
changed
Fauchald, Kristian
2011-05-15 21:14:46Z
changed
Read, Geoffrey
2016-11-12 02:48:22Z
changed
Read, Geoffrey
2020-06-23 21:57:07Z
changed
Gil, João

original description Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 654 [details] Available for editors  PDF available

original description (of Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. [iii] + 824 pp. , available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors  PDF available

original description (of Heteronereis Örsted, 1843) Örsted, Anders Sandoe. (1843). Grönlands Annulata dorsibranchiata. <em>Det Kongelige Danske videnskabernes selskabs. Naturvidenskabelige og mathematiske afhandlinger.</em> 10 (series 4): 153-216. 8 plates., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13597198
page(s): 174 [details] OpenAccess publication

taxonomy source Gravina, Maria Flavia; Lezzi, Marco; Bonifazi, Andrea; Giangrande, Adriana. (2015). The genus Nereis L., 1758 (Polychaeta, Nereididae); state of the art for identification of Mediterranean species. <em>Atti della Società Toscana di Scienze Naturali, Memorie.</em> (serie B) 122, 147- 164., available online at https://doi.org/10.2424/ASTSN.M.2015.13 [details] Available for editors  PDF available

basis of record Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS) [details] 

additional source Day, J. H. (1967). [Errantia] A monograph on the Polychaeta of Southern Africa. Part 1. Errantia. British Museum (Natural History), London. pp. vi, 1–458, xxix., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/8596 [details] 

additional source Glasby, Christopher J.; Read, Geoffrey B.; Lee, Kenneth E.; Blakemore, R.J.; Fraser, P.M.; Pinder, A.M.; Erséus, C.; Moser, W.E.; Burreson, E.M.; Govedich, F.R.; Davies, R.W.; Dawson, E.W. (2009). Phylum Annelida: bristleworms, earthworms, leeches. <em>[Book chapter].</em> Chapt 17, pp. 312-358. in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. [details] Available for editors  PDF available

additional source Georgieva, Magdalena N.; Wiklund, Helena; Ramos, Dino A.; Neal, Lenka; Glasby, Christopher J.; Gunton, Laetitia M. (2023). The annelid community of a natural deep-sea whale fall off eastern Australia. <em>Records of the Australian Museum.</em> 75(3): 167-213., available online at https://journals.australian.museum/georgieva-2023-rec-aust-mus-753-167213/
page(s): 189, figure 17; note: Un-named Nereis recorded (with molecular data) from Whale skull & vertebrae off Byron Bay, NSW, Australia, beam trawl, start: 28.05°S 154.08°E, 999 m, end: 28.10°S 154.08°E, 1013 m [details] Available for editors  PDF available

additional source Fauchald, K. (1977). The polychaete worms, definitions and keys to the orders, families and genera. <em>Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Los Angeles, CA (USA), Science Series.</em> 28:1-188., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/123110.pdf [details] 

identification resource Ramírez­-Hernández, Adriana; Hernández-Alcántara, Pablo; Solís-Weiss, Vivianne. (2015). <em>Nereis </em><em>alacranensis</em>, a new species of polychaete (Annelida, Nereididae) from Alacranes Reef, southern Gulf of Mexico, with a key to <em>Nereis </em>from the Grand Caribbean. <em>Zootaxa.</em> 4012(1): 156-166., available online at https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4012.1.8
page(s): 163; note: Key to Grand Caribbean species of Nereis [details] 
 
 Present  Inaccurate  Introduced: alien  Containing type locality 
   

    Definitions

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To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Nereis) 
To Genbank 
To NMNH Extant Collection (USNM 23959 Specimen-1) 
To The Arctic Traits Database (20 traits) 
To Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History (YPM IZ 098054) 
To ITIS
Unreviewed
Website and databases developed and hosted by VLIZ · Page generated 2026-08-17 GMT · contact: Mika Odido