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. 2021 Feb 24:1020:1-198.
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1020.57921. eCollection 2021.

Annelids of the eastern Australian abyss collected by the 2017 RV 'Investigator' voyage

Affiliations

Annelids of the eastern Australian abyss collected by the 2017 RV 'Investigator' voyage

Laetitia M Gunton et al. Zookeys. .

Abstract

In Australia, the deep-water (bathyal and abyssal) benthic invertebrate fauna is poorly known in comparison with that of shallow (subtidal and shelf) habitats. Benthic fauna from the deep eastern Australian margin was sampled systematically for the first time during 2017 RV 'Investigator' voyage 'Sampling the Abyss'. Box core, Brenke sledge, and beam trawl samples were collected at one-degree intervals from Tasmania, 42°S, to southern Queensland, 24°S, from 900 to 4800 m depth. Annelids collected were identified by taxonomic experts on individual families around the world. A complete list of all identified species is presented, accompanied with brief morphological diagnoses, taxonomic remarks, and colour images. A total of more than 6000 annelid specimens consisting of 50 families (47 Polychaeta, one Echiura, two Sipuncula) and 214 species were recovered. Twenty-seven species were given valid names, 45 were assigned the qualifier cf., 87 the qualifier sp., and 55 species were considered new to science. Geographical ranges of 16 morphospecies extended along the eastern Australian margin to the Great Australian Bight, South Australia; however, these ranges need to be confirmed with genetic data. This work providing critical baseline biodiversity data on an important group of benthic invertebrates from a virtually unknown region of the world's ocean will act as a springboard for future taxonomic and biogeographic studies in the area.

Keywords: Echiura; Polychaeta; Sipuncula; Biodiversity; Biogeography; Marine Parks; Tasman Sea; deep sea; lower-bathyal.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of sampling sites from expedition IN2017_V03 along eastern Australia. Blue dots represent beam trawl, yellow dots Brenke sledge, red dots box core sampling sites, green polygons represent areas of Australian Marine Parks.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Acoetidae, Chrysopetalidae, Nephtyidae, OweniidaeAAcoetidae, Panthalis sp., dorsal view (AM W.50321) BChrysopetalidae, Dysponetus cf. caecus, dorsal view CDysponetus cf. caecus, ventral view DNephtyidae, Aglaophamus sp. pre- and post-acicular chaetae ENephtyidae, Nephtys cf. paradoxa (AM W.52750) FNephtyidae, Aglaophamus sp. GOweniidae, Myriowenia sp. in tube (AM W.51842). Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1 mm (B, C); 50 µm (D); 5 mm (E, G); 3 mm (F).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
AcrocirridaeAFlabelligena sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52559) BFlabelligena sp. nov. 2. (AM W.52561) CFlabelligena sp. nov. 3. (AM W.52560) DFlabelligena sp. nov. 4. (AM W.52828) EChauvinelia sp. (AM W.52552) FAcrocirridae gen. sp. 2 (AM W.52833). Scale bars: 1 mm (A); 500 µm (B–F).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Ampharetidae and Melinnidae. AmpharetidaeAAmage sp. nov. 1 BAnobothrus sp. nov. 1, anterior end methyl blue staining CAnobothrus sp. nov. 2 anterior end methyl blue staining. MelinnidaeDMelinna cf. armandi and tube (AM W.50354), d dorsal hook. AmpharetidaeEAmphicteis sp. (AM W. 50429). MelinnidaeFMelinnopsis gardelli anterior dorsal view (AM W.50735) GMelinnopsis sp. nov., lateral view (AM W.50397). Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1 mm (B, C); 2.5 mm (D); 1 cm (E, G); 1 mm (F).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
AmphinomidaeALinopherus sp. 1, bipinnate branchiae BLinopherus sp. 1, antennae and palps CParamphinome cf. australisDParamphinome cf. australis, hooks EPareurythoe sp. (AM W.52611) FAmphinomidae gen. sp. juveniles (AM W.52607). Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 100 µm (B); 1 mm (C, F); 50 µm (D); 3 mm (E).
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
AphroditidaeAAphrodita cf. talpa (NMV F.293294) dorsal view BAphrodita cf. talpa (AM W.49509) lateral view CAphrodita goolmarris (AM W.52604) dorsal view DLaetmonice yarramba dorsal view (AM W.49499) ELaetmonice yarramba ventral view (AM W.49500). Scale bars: 1 mm (C); 5 mm (A, B, D, E).
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
DorvilleidaeAOphryotrocha sp. 1 BOphryotrocha sp. 2 COphryotrocha sp. 3 DOphryotrocha sp. 4 EOphryotrocha sp. 5 e same, anterior view FOphryotrocha sp. 6. Scale bars: 200 µm.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
EunicidaeAEunice sp. nov., anterior view (AM W.50148) B Maxillae of Eunice sp. nov. (AM W.50148) CLeodice sp. nov., anterior view (AM W.50146) D Maxillae of Leodice sp. nov. (AM W.50152). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, C); 1 mm (B, D).
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
FauveliopsidaeALaubieriopsis hartmanaeBL. hartmanae, chaetae CL. hartmanae, genital papilla DRiseriopsis cf. santosaeERiseriopsis cf. santosae, chaetae. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, D); 50 µm (B); 100 µm (C); 250 µm (E).
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
FlabelligeridaeABradabyssa cf. kirkegaardi (AM W.52573) BBradabyssa sp.1 (AM W.52551) CDiplocirrus sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52559) DDiplocirrus sp. nov. 2 (AM W.52563) EDiplocirrus sp. nov. 4 (AM W.52551) FDiplocirrus sp. 5 (AM W.52562) GIlyphagus sp. (AM W.52561) HFlabelligeridae sp. (AM W.52554) IFlabelligeridae sp. Scale bars: 500 µm (A, B, D, E); 1 mm (C, F, G, I); 2 mm (H).
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Glyceridae and Goniadidae. AGlyceridae, Glycera sp. anterior body with everted pharynx, ventrolateral view (AM W.52668) BGoniadidae, Bathyglycinde profunda, whole specimen (AM W.52667) CGlyceridae, Glycera cf. capitata, digitiform proboscideal papilla, lateral view (AM W.52672) DGoniadidae, Bathyglycinde profunda, anterior fragment (AM W.52667) EBathyglycinde profunda, proboscideal papillae of area II, posterior view (AM W.52669) FGlyceridae, Glycera cf. russa, conical proboscideal papilla with eight ridges, posterior view (AM W.52605). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, D); 10 µm (C); 50 µm (E); 10 µm (F).
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
HesionidaeAMicrophthalmus sp. BMicrophthalmus sp., anterior end CMicrophthalmus sp., pygidium DNeogyptis sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52327) ENeogyptis sp. nov. 2 (AM W.52436) FVrijenhoekia keteaG cf. Vrijenhoekia sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52453). Scale bars: 0.25 mm (A); 100 µm (B); 100 µm (C); 1 mm (E, F, G); 2 mm (D).
Figure 13.
Figure 13.
LumbrineridaeACenogenus sp. nov. (AM W.50139), parapodium from chaetiger 7 BCenogenus sp. nov., posterior parapodium CCenogenus sp. nov., maxillae DEranno sp. nov., AM W.50140, parapodium from chaetiger 11 EEranno sp. nov., maxillae FLumbrineris sp., op. 4 (NHMUK), anterior part of the body, dorsal view GLumbrineris sp., simple hooded hooks. Abbreviations: Mc, maxillary carriers; MI–MIV, maxillary plates. Scale bars: 200 µm (A, B, D); 500 µm (C, E); 5 mm (F); 25 µm (G).
Figure 14.
Figure 14.
MaldanidaeABoguea sp. nov. BChirimia sp. nov. CLumbriclymene sp. DMaldane sp. EMaldanella sp. 1 FMaldanella sp. 2 GNotoproctus sp. nov. 1 HNotoproctus cf. scutiferusINotoproctus oculatus antarcticusJNotoproctus sp. nov. 2. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, D, F); 1 mm (B, C, G–J).
Figure 15.
Figure 15.
NereididaeANeanthes cricognatha (op. 80) BNeanthes heteroculata, prostomium CNeanthes sp. 1, live specimen DNeanthes sp. 1, prostomium ENeanthes sp. 2, live specimen FNeanthes sp. 2, prostomium GNereis sp. 1 HNereis sp. 1, prostomium. Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B, D, F); 10 mm (C, E); 5 mm (G); 0.5 mm (H).
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
OnuphidaeAAnchinothria cf. pycnobranchiata (op. 56) BNothria cf. paxtonae (op. 56) CNothria sp. nov. 1 (AM W.49940) DNothria sp. nov. 1, tube (AM W.49940) ENothria sp. nov. 2 (AM W.49933) FNothria sp. nov. 3 (AM W.49934) GParadiopatra sp. nov. 2 (AM W.49950). Scale bars: 5 mm (A); 1 mm (B–E, G); 4 mm (F).
Figure 17.
Figure 17.
OpheliidaeAOphelina cf. cirrosaBOphelina cf. cirrosa, posterior end COphelina cf. cirrosa, anterior end DOphelina cf. helgolandiaeEOphelina cf. helgolandiae, prostomium FOphelina cf. bowitzi, branchiae with blister-shaped bumps GOphelina cf. bowitzi, anal funnel. Scale bars: 3 mm (A); 0.5 mm (B, C); 5 mm (D); 0.25 mm (E, F); 1 mm (G).
Figure 18.
Figure 18.
OrbiniidaeABerkeleyia sp. (op. 79) BLeitoscoloplos cf. abranchiatus (op. 54) CLeitoscoloplos cf. kerguelensis (op. 96) DLeitoscoloplos sp. 1 (op. 30) EOrbiniella cf. aciculata (op. 42) FProtoaricinae gen. sp. (op 100). Scale bars: 500 µm (A, C, E); 2 mm (B, D); 1 mm (F).
Figure 19.
Figure 19.
ParaonidaeAAricidea sp., prostomium with median antennae B same, capillary with arista CAricidea cf. simplex, dorsal view anterior (AM W.52307) D same, ventral view anterior (AM W.52307) ELevinsenia uncinata (AM W.52320), methyl green stained dorsal view FParaonella sp. 1 (AM W.52310) GParaonis cf. quadrilobata chaetae (AM W.52307). Scale bars: 250 µm (A); 50 µm (B); 1 mm (C, D, E, F); 10 µm (G).
Figure 20.
Figure 20.
PectinariidaePetta investigatoris (AM W.50672) A ventral view B dorsal view C tube. Petta williamsonae (AM W.50667) D ventral view E anterior end, lateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 5 mm (C); 1 mm (D); 0.5 mm (E).
Figure 21.
Figure 21.
PhyllodocidaeAEumida cf. angolensisBEumida cf. longicirrata, live specimen CEumida cf. longicirrata, prostomium D ?Pseudomystides sp., prostomium EPhyllodocidae sp. (op. 79) FPhyllodocidae sp. (AM W.52332). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, E, F); 0.5 mm (C); 100 µm (D).
Figure 22.
Figure 22.
PolynoidaeAAdmetella cf. longipedata anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.51461) BAustrolaenilla sp. anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52215) CBathyeliasona nigra anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52216) DEunoe cf. abyssorum anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.51463) EEunoe cf. opalina dorsal view and elytra (AM W.51464). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, D, E); 3 mm (B); 2 mm (C).
Figure 23.
Figure 23.
Polynoidae 2 AHarmothoe sp. 5 anterior end, dorsal view, and elytra (AM W.52581) BLepidasthenia indet. dorsal view, pharynx extended (AM W.51580) CMacellicephalinae sp. 5 anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52014) DPolaruschakov sp. dorsal view (AM W.52580). Scale bars: 5 mm.
Figure 24.
Figure 24.
ProtodrilidaeAProtodrilus cf. puniceusB same, ventral side C same, pygidium. Scale bars: 250 µm.
Figure 25.
Figure 25.
SabellariidaeAGesaia csiro holotype (AM W.49506), anterior end with tube BG. csiro, entire body, lateral view CPhalacrostemma timoharai holotype (AM W.50674), ventro-lateral view DP. timoharai, lateral view EP. timoharai, tube FP. timoharai, entire body in tube, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, E, F); 0.5 mm (C, D).
Figure 26.
Figure 26.
Sabellidae, Syllidae, Terebellidae. SabellidaeASabellidae sp. 1 (AM W.52133) BSabellidae sp. 2 (AM W.52214) CPotamethus cf. scotiae (AM W.51585). SyllidaeDAnguillosyllis sp. (AM W.52625) EExogone cf. heterosetosa (AM W.52329) FTerebellidae (sensu stricto) (AM W.50426). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, D, E); 5 mm (C, F).
Figure 27.
Figure 27.
Scalibregmatidae and Siboglinidae. SiboglinidaeA Frenulate tube (op. 11) BOsedax sp. nov., preserved female specimen inside tube COsedax sp. nov., detail of palps of preserved female specimen. ScalibregmatidaeDOligobregma sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52686) EOligobregma sp. nov. 1 (AM W.52698). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 500 µm (C); 1 mm (D, E).
Figure 28.
Figure 28.
SerpulidaeABathyvermilia challengeri, tube only (AM W.49722) BBathyvermilia cf. kupriyanovae, tube only (AM W.49707) CBathyvermilia sp. nov. 3, specimen in white shiny tube (AM W.49494) DHyalopomatus dieteri, tube only (AM W.49689) EBathyvermilia sp. nov. 4, specimen in tube with high keel (AM W.49448) FHyalopomatus sp. nov. 2, specimen removed from the tube (AM W. 49727) GHyalopomatus sp. nov. 3, specimen removed from the tube (AM W. 49494) HProtis sp. 3, specimen partly removed tube, with egg sacks (AM W.49682) ISpirodiscus sp. nov., specimens in tubes (AM W.49511). Scale bars: 2 mm (A, C); 10 mm (B, E); 1 mm (D, F, H); 0.5 mm (G); 2 mm (I).
Figure 29.
Figure 29.
SigalionidaeALeanira sp. nov. (AM W.52617) BLeanira sp. nov. (AM W.52620) CNeoleanira sp. nov. (AM W.49501) DNeoleanira sp. nov. (AM W.52612) EPholoe sp. (AM W.52160) FPholoides sp. (AM W.52616). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, E); 1 cm (C, D); 0.1 mm (F).
Figure 30.
Figure 30.
SphaerodoridaeA–CClavodorum cf. longipesD–GSphaerephesia sp. nov. 1 (D, stained with methyl blue) H–JSphaerephesia sp. nov. 3 K, LSphaerephesia sp. nov. 5 M, NSphaerodorum sp. Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B, D, E, I–M); 1 mm (G, H); 10 µm (C, N).
Figure 31.
Figure 31.
SpionidaeAAurospio cf. dibranchiata: anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52242) BAurospio sp. nov. 1, anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52240) CPrionospio cf. amarsupiata, anterior end, dorsal view (AM W.52221) DDipolydora notialis, heavy spine with crest of bristles on convex side from chaetiger 5 (AM W.52245) EDipolydora notialis, bidentate hooded hooks with smooth, curved shafts without constriction from posterior chaetiger (AM W.52245) FLaonice cf. blakei: anterior end, dorsal-oblique view (AM W.52226) GSpiophanes anoculata, posteriorly incomplete specimen in dorsal-oblique view, metameric dorsal ciliated organ bordered by pigment of dark orange or ochre colour (AM W.52222). Scale bars: 100 µm (A, B, C); 1 µm (D, E); 200 µm (F); 500 µm (G).
Figure 32.
Figure 32.
Sternaspidae. TravisiidaeASternaspis sp., ventral view (op. 40) BSternaspis sp., dorsal view (op. 40) CSternaspis cf. annenkovae, ventral view (op. 40) DSternaspis cf. annenkovae, ventral view (op. 40) ETravisia sp. 1 (AM W.52547). Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B); 3 mm (C, D); 5 mm (E).
Figure 33.
Figure 33.
EchiuraAlomasoma sp. nov. 1 (AM W.49662) A whole animal B nephridia C anal vesicles. Alomasoma sp. nov. 2 (AM W.49662) D whole animal E nephridia F anal vesicles. Maxmuelleria sp. nov. (AM W.49668) G whole animal H close-up of anterior part I right nephridium J anal vesicles. Abbreviations: AV, anal vesicles; Ne, nephridium. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, D, G); 2 mm (B, C, E, F, H, I); 1 mm (J).
Figure 34.
Figure 34.
Echiura whole animals of Bonelliidae spp. AAM W.49516 BAM W.49541 CAM W.49541 DAM W.49663 EAM W.49664 FAM W.49665 GAM W.49666. Scale bars: 10 mm (A, D, E); 2 mm (B); 1 mm (C); 5 mm (F, G).
Figure 35.
Figure 35.
SipunculaASipunculus sp. (AM W.49645), lateral view BGolfingia muricaudata (AM W.49656), lateral view CGolfingia muricaudata (AM W.49657) DSipuncula gen. sp. (op. 35), lateral view EPhascolion lutense (AM W.49601), top: specimen removed from sediment tube; bottom: specimen partially removed from tube; right: sediment tube. Scale bars: 5 mm.

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