Deep-Sea taxon details
Nereis Linnaeus, 1758
129379 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:129379)
accepted
Genus
Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (currently disused nominal subgenus)
- Species Nereis abyssa Imajima, 2009
- Species Nereis anoculepitoka Bergamo, Carrerette, Shimabukuro, Santos & Sumida, 2023
- Species Nereis anoculis Hartman, 1960
- Species Nereis caecoides Hartman, 1965
- Species Nereis caymanensis Fauchald, 1977
- Species Nereis dorsolobata Hartmann-Schröder, 1965
- Species Nereis elitoralis Eliason, 1962
- Species Nereis eugeniae (Kinberg, 1865)
- Species Nereis longisetis McIntosh, 1885
- Species Nereis mariellae Bergamo, Carrerette, Shimabukuro, Santos & Sumida, 2023
- Species Nereis piscesae Blake & Hilbig, 1990
- Species Nereis profundi Kirkegaard, 1956
- Species Nereis rava Ehlers, 1868
- Species Nereis sandersi Blake, 1985
- Species Nereis saramagoi Bergamo, Carrerette, Shimabukuro, Santos & Sumida, 2023
- Species Nereis shinkai (Shimabukuro, Santos, Alfaro-Lucas, Fujiwara & Sumida, 2017)
- Species Nereis surugaense Imajima, 1972
- Species Nereis tricirrata Lin, Huang, Liang & He, 2022
- Species Nereis zonata Malmgren, 1867
- Species Nereis articulata Ehlers, 1887 (uncertain > taxon inquirendum, indeterminable from damaged type and original description)
- Subgenus Nereis (Neanthes) Kinberg, 1865 accepted as Neanthes Kinberg, 1865 (superseded subsequent rank change)
- Species Nereis (Neanthes) kerguelensis McIntosh, 1885 accepted as Neanthes kerguelensis (McIntosh, 1885) (unaccepted > superseded combination, superseded subsequent subgenus combination)
- Species Nereis (Neanthes) succinea Leuckart, 1847 accepted as Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) (superseded original combination with subgeneric attribution)
- Subgenus Nereis (Nereis) Linnaeus, 1758 accepted as Nereis Linnaeus, 1758 (currently disused nominal subgenus)
- Species Nereis kerguelensis McIntosh, 1885 accepted as Neanthes kerguelensis (McIntosh, 1885) (unaccepted > superseded combination, superseded original combination)
- Species Nereis longissima Johnston, 1840 accepted as Eunereis longissima (Johnston, 1840) (superseded original combination)
- Species Nereis succinea Leuckart, 1847 accepted as Alitta succinea (Leuckart, 1847) (superseded original combination)
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
(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
page(s): 654 [details] Available for editors
(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
Note Type species Nereis pelagica Linnaeus 1758 in...
Unreviewed
Type species Type species Nereis pelagica Linnaeus 1758 in Fauchald, 1977<246>. [details]
Etymology Believed to be named after the name of the nymphs in Greek mythology. The Nereids (Greek: Νηρηΐδες Nereides, sg....
Status Possible nomina dubia. Thirteen Nereis names inadequately described with "barely enough to recognize them as polychaetes"...
Etymology Believed to be named after the name of the nymphs in Greek mythology. The Nereids (Greek: Νηρηΐδες Nereides, sg. Νηρηΐς Nereis) are sea nymphs, female spirits of sea waters, the 50 daughters of Nereus and Doris [source: Wikipedia] [details]
Status Possible nomina dubia. Thirteen Nereis names inadequately described with "barely enough to recognize them as polychaetes"...
Status Possible nomina dubia. Thirteen Nereis names inadequately described with "barely enough to recognize them as polychaetes" and thus regarded as nomina dubia by Putignano et al (2026: 338) are as follows:
Nereis acustris Linnaeus, 1767
Nereis aegyptia (Savigny in Lamark, 1818)
Nereis crassa Gmelin in Linnaeus, 1788
Nereis frontalis Bosc, 1802
Nereis lineata Delle Chiaje, 1827
Nereis litoralis Leach in Johnston, 1865
Nereis peruviana Ehlers, 1868
Nereis phyllophorus Ross, 1819
Nereis quadricorna Delle Chiaje, 1841
Nereis tethycola Delle Chiaje, 1831
Nereis tigrina Zachs, 1933
Nereis ventilabrum (Delle Chiaje, 1827)
Nereis villosa Dalyell, 1853
[details]
Nereis acustris Linnaeus, 1767
Nereis aegyptia (Savigny in Lamark, 1818)
Nereis crassa Gmelin in Linnaeus, 1788
Nereis frontalis Bosc, 1802
Nereis lineata Delle Chiaje, 1827
Nereis litoralis Leach in Johnston, 1865
Nereis peruviana Ehlers, 1868
Nereis phyllophorus Ross, 1819
Nereis quadricorna Delle Chiaje, 1841
Nereis tethycola Delle Chiaje, 1831
Nereis tigrina Zachs, 1933
Nereis ventilabrum (Delle Chiaje, 1827)
Nereis villosa Dalyell, 1853
[details]
Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2025). World Polychaeta Database. Nereis Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed through: Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2025) World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS) at: https://marinespecies.org/Deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129379 on 2026-10-14
Glover, A.G.; Higgs, N.; Horton, T. (2026). World Register of Deep-Sea species (WoRDSS). Nereis Linnaeus, 1758. Accessed at: https://marinespecies.org/deepsea/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129379 on 2026-10-14
Date
action
by
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
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
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
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 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]
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
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
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]
page(s): 654 [details] Available for editors
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
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
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 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]
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
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
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
From editor or global species database
Etymology Believed to be named after the name of the nymphs in Greek mythology. The Nereids (Greek: Νηρηΐδες Nereides, sg. Νηρηΐς Nereis) are sea nymphs, female spirits of sea waters, the 50 daughters of Nereus and Doris [source: Wikipedia] [details]Grammatical gender Feminine. Linnaeus used feminine adjective 'pelagica' for the type species name. [details]
Status Possible nomina dubia. Thirteen Nereis names inadequately described with "barely enough to recognize them as polychaetes" and thus regarded as nomina dubia by Putignano et al (2026: 338) are as follows:
Nereis acustris Linnaeus, 1767
Nereis aegyptia (Savigny in Lamark, 1818)
Nereis crassa Gmelin in Linnaeus, 1788
Nereis frontalis Bosc, 1802
Nereis lineata Delle Chiaje, 1827
Nereis litoralis Leach in Johnston, 1865
Nereis peruviana Ehlers, 1868
Nereis phyllophorus Ross, 1819
Nereis quadricorna Delle Chiaje, 1841
Nereis tethycola Delle Chiaje, 1831
Nereis tigrina Zachs, 1933
Nereis ventilabrum (Delle Chiaje, 1827)
Nereis villosa Dalyell, 1853
[details]
Unreviewed
Habitat Known from seamounts and knolls [details]Type species Type species Nereis pelagica Linnaeus 1758 in Fauchald, 1977<246>. [details]
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
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
Hosted externally
Hosted externally
Image from typetaxon
Image from typetaxon
