Serpulid species (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) from the Levantine coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean), with special emphasis on alien species

The faunistic analysis of benthic samples taken from 0 to 200 m depths on the eastern Levantine coast of Turkey in September 2005 yielded the presence of 16 serpulid species, 9 of which are considered to be aliens: Hydroides brachyacanthus, H. diramphus, H. elegans, H. heterocerus, H. homoceros, H. minax, H. operculatus, Pomatoleios kraussii and Spirobranchus tetraceros. Ten species are new records for the Levantine coast of Turkey. Hydroides operculatus and P. kraussii formed dense populations on shallow-water artificial and natural hard substrates in the area. The population density and biomass (wet weight) of H. operculatus reached up to 384,000 individuals.m-2 and 245.76 g.m-2 in Mersin Bay and those of P. kraussii up to 52,000 individuals.m-2 and 154.76 g.m-2 in Iskenderun Harbour. The species with the highest frequency values at shallow water stations (0-5 m) were P. kraussii (50%), Pomatoceros lamarckii (50%), H. minax (42%), H. brachyacanthus (38%) and H. elegans (29%). Alien species were not found at depths deeper than 25 m. Alien species accounted for more than 85% of the serpulid specimens collected. Brief descriptions of the species, and their distributional, reproductive and ecological characteristics are given. In addition, population characteristics of the dominant species, H. operculatus and P. kraussii, are analyzed. © 2006 The Author(s)

Checklist of the phyla platyhelminthes, Xenacoelomorpha, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Myxozoa, Tardigrada, Cephalorhyncha, Nemertea, Echiura, Brachiopoda, Phoronida, Chaetognatha, and chordata (Tunicata, Cephalochordata, and hemichordata) from the coasts of Turkey

In this paper, the current status of the species diversity of 13 phyla, namely Platyhelminthes, Xenacoelomorpha, Nematoda, Acanthocephala, Myxozoa, Tardigrada, Cephalorhyncha, Nemertea, Echiura, Brachiopoda, Phoronida, Chaetognatha, and Chordata (invertebrates, only Tunicata, Cephalochordata, and Hemichordata) along the coasts of Turkey is reviewed. Platyhelminthes was represented by 186 species, Chordata by 64 species, Nemertea by 26 species, Nematoda by 20 species, Xenacoelomorpha by 11 species, Chaetognatha by 10 species, Acanthocephala by 9 species, Brachiopoda and Phoronida by 4 species, Myxozoa and Tradigrada by 2 species, and Cephalorhyncha and Echiura by 1 species. Two platyhelminth (Planocera cf. graf and Prostheceraeus vittatus), 2 nemertean (Drepanogigas albolineatus and Tubulanus superbus), 1 phoronid (Phoronis australis), and 2 ascidian (Polyclinella azemai and Ciona roulei) species are being newly reported for the first time from the coasts of Turkey. Four tunicate (Symplegma brakenhielmi, Microcosmus exasperatus, Herdmania momus, and Phallusia nigra) and 1 chaetognath (Ferosagitta galerita) species were classifed as alien species in the region. © 2014 Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

A new species of Trypanosyllis (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from the Levantine coast of Turkey (eastern Mediterranean)

The examination of rock and stone samples collected at 0.2-3 m in Mersin Bay (Levantine coast of Turkey) revealed the presence of 14 specimens belonging to a new species of Syllidae (Polychaeta), Trypanosyllis sanmartini. The species is mainly characterized by having dark reddish-brown dorsal cirri, pale yellowish body colour, weakly bidentate falcigers, long and filiform dorsal cirri, long proventricle and pharynx, and a trepan with ten large teeth (without a pharyngeal mid-dorsal tooth). The posterior-most segments of the holotype and five paratypes had a cluster of stolons. The morphology and reproductive features of the species are explained and discussed

Syllis ergeni: A new species of Syllidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean Sea)

The faunal analysis of hard bottom materials collected from Alsancak Harbour and its vicinity (Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea) revealed a new syllid species, Syllis ergeni. The species is mainly characterized by having a dark-brown colour pattern on the dorsum of anterior and middle segments, short blade falcigers, the number and morphology of aciculae, and a pigmented proventriculus and pharynx. The morphology, ecology, distribution and reproductive features of the species are explained and discussed. Copyright © 2005 Magnolia Press

A new species of Myrianida (Polychaeta: Syllidae: Autolytinae) from Rhodes (Greece, eastern Mediterranean)

This paper deals with a new species of Myrianida collected from Rhodes Island at 1 m depth among algae in April 2014. This new species is mainly characterized by having flattened dorsal cirri; high number of falcigers in parapodia; a trepan with 16 unequal teeth; and a brownish patch (in fixed specimen) on dorsum of each segment. Individuals are at the stage of reproduction, with developing stolons. Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015

Eusyllinae and Syllinae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from northern Cyprus (eastern Mediterranean Sea) with a checklist of species reported from the Levant Sea

Shallow and deep-water benthic samples collected during two cruises to northern Cyprus held in 1997 and 1998 showed relatively high species richness of Eusyllinae and Syllinae, with a total of 49 species. The materials contained one species (Eusyllis kupfferi Langerhans, 1879) new to the Mediterranean Sea, seven species new to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, 23 species new to the Levantine Sea and 42 species new to Cyprus. The morphological, biometrical and distributional characteristics of the species as well as a checklist of the Eusyllinae and Syllinae species reported from the Levant coast are provided