Smith, Ralph I. (1959). The synonymy of the viviparous polychaete Neanthes lighti Hartman (1938) with Nereis limnicola Johnson (1903). Pacific Science. 13(4): 349-350.

53132

Smith, Ralph I.

1959

13(4): 349-350

Publication

http://hdl.handle.net/10125/8093

World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb)

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Nereis limnicola was described by Johnson (1903) from the fresh-water Lake Merced in San Francisco, California. Since that time no reports of its occurrence have been published. Hartman (1938) noted that the boundaries and bed of the lake have been "altered by dredging and roadbuilding operations, and that what was once the type locality of Nereis limnicola now lies many feet below a road bed." In 1938 Hartman described Neanthes lighti from small estuaries on the coast of Marin and Sonoma counties to the north of San Francisco, and from pools described as fresh along the Russian River. In this paper Hartman mentions N. limnicola, but does not discuss the possibility of the two forms being synonymous. Later she has stated (Light et al., 1954: 88) that N. lighti "may prove to be Nereis limnicola . . . ." In 1941, N. lighti was found to be viviparous by Dr. Marian Pettibone (reported by Hartman, 1944: 252), and an account of its embryology has been given by Smith (1950). Since viviparity and the ability to live in fresh water are rare among polychaetes, and since N. lighti seems to offer excellent experimental material, it is important that its identity be clearly established .

California quadrant

Systematics, Taxonomy

Annelida
Polychaeta

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