Hydroides elegans ( Haswell, 1883 )

Bastida-Zavala, J. Rolando, 2008, Serpulids (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Eastern Pacific, including a brief mention of Hawaiian serpulids, Zootaxa 1722, pp. 1-61 : 25-26

Hydroides elegans ( Haswell, 1883)

( Figure 6H)

Eupomatus elegans Haswell, 1883: 633 , pl. 12, fig. 1. Type locality: Port Jackson, Australia.

Hydroides elegans .— Bastida-Zavala and ten Hove, 2003b: 86–87, figs. 11A–S (revision of the genus from Eastern Pacific).

Material examined. More than one thousand specimens: California ( USA), LACM-AHF s.n., colony (33º21’03”N, 118º19’55”W, off Avalon , Santa Catalina Island, Velero III, sta. 1377, grey sand, 110 m, Aug. 3, 1941, as Serpula sp. ); LACM-AHF s.n. (33º44’02”N, 118º32’03”W, 10 km from Pt. Vicente, lighthouse, Velero IV, sta. 2475, peel grab, mud, specimen attached to hexactinellid sponge, 740 m, Oct. 28, 1953) ; LACM- AHF s.n. (33º47’59”N, 118º33’59”W, 11.5 km from Palos Verdes Point , Velero IV, sta. 2792, Hayward grab, mud, 600 m, May 22, 1954) ; LACM-AHF s.n. (33º14’N, 118º18’04”W, 6.9 km from East End Light , Santa Catalina Island, Velero IV, sta. 2850, Campbell grab, 1,200 m, June 23, 1954) ; SERC s.v., 74 spec. (approx. 32º43’N, 117º13’W, San Diego , PVC fouling plates, 1999–2002). MBL-SD s.n., 5 spec. (approx. 32º43’N, 117º13’W, San Diego, CSA P–161, 1 month panel, Oct. 7 to Nov. 7, 1974, as H. pacificus ). Baja California Sur ( Mexico), ECOSUR, UMAR-Poly 65, 1,000+ spec. (approx. 24º16’10”N, 110º19’29”W, SEAL-UABCS, Bahia de La Paz, PVC plate, one month in water, covered 85–90% of serpulids, May 24, 1991, coll. L. Varela) .

Diagnosis. For a revised description see Bastida-Zavala and ten Hove (2003b).

Habitat. Depth: 0–1 m. Fouling on ships and piers. Several lots ( LACM-AHF 1377 , 2475 , 2792 , 2850 ) have deeper records (110– 1,200 m) for this shallow-water species (questionable data); the type locality is shallow subtidal, where it occurs in a distinct zone all around Port Jackson , NSW, Australia .

Distribution. Circum (sub) tropical. Mediterranean, North Sea, Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, South Africa, Persian Gulf, India, Australia, Micronesia; California ( USA) to Baja California Sur ( Mexico), Hawaii ( Zibrowius 1971a, Bastida-Zavala & ten Hove 2003a-b).

Remarks. Hydroides elegans is considered as an invasive, ship-transported species (e.g. Zibrowius 1994). However, its distribution is generally limited to polluted harbours and eutrophic lagoons, except in the type locality and other few localities (ten Hove 1974). In the past, H. elegans was constantly confused with H. norvegicus . However, the main difference is the special collar chaetae: with 2–3 large teeth in H. norvegicus , while the teeth are minute and numerous in H. elegans ( Zibrowius 1971a; Bastida-Zavala & ten Hove 2003a).