Neanthes cricognatha ( Ehlers, 1904 )

Glasby, Christopher J., 2015, Nereididae (Annelida: Phyllodocida) of Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 207-239 : 218-219

Neanthes cricognatha ( Ehlers, 1904)

Nereis cricognatha Ehlers, 1904: 29 –30, Pl. 4, figs 3–7.

Neanthes cricognatha .— Hutchings & Turvey 1982: 110 –111; Wilson 1984: 213 –214.

Material examined. AM: W.43469, MI QLD 2394 (1); W.47542-T, MI QLD 2441 (1). NTM: W22585-T (1), Off Casuarina Beach , 14°40.82'S 145°26.67'E, coll. P. Brock & N. Bruce, 15 Apr 2008; W22733 (1), Day Reef, 14°28.27'S 145°37.78'E, coll. M. Blazewicz-Paskowycz, 13 Feb 2009; W23965 (1), Mrs Watson's Bay, 14°39.492'S 145°26.94'E, coll. CReefs Lizard Team, 30 Aug 2010.

Diagnosis. Neanthes species having three notopodial lobes/ligules (i.e., prechaetal notopodial lobe well developed) in anterior parapodia; broad band of paragnaths in Areas VII–VIII continuous with those in Areas V, VI.

Remarks. Neanthes cricognatha belongs to the N. acuminata species group, a world-wide distributed complex of similar species including the nominal species N. acuminata ( Ehlers, 1868) , N. caudata (delle Chiaje) and N. arenaceodentata Moore ( Reish et al. 2014) . Although the name N. cricognatha has been synonymised with both of the latter names previously, I follow Wilson (1984) in maintaining the name N. cricognatha for the Australian and New Zealand forms, particularly as recent molecular studies have suggested that the species group contains multiple evolutionary significant units ( Reish et al. 2014).

Specimen AM W.43469 was collected in the water column of the lagoon. It was not epitokous, but the welldeveloped parapodia and small, fragile body of this species suggest that it may be well equipped for swimming.

Habitat. Lagoon and fore reef, sand and Pessonalia algae, 2–10 m;?pelagic.

Type locality. New Zealand.

Distribution. Australia, widespread. First record for Lizard Island.