Terebélidos (Terebellidae: Polychaeta: Annelida) del Caribe colombiano

Polychaetes have a high diversity and abundance in all oceans. They have important role as biological indicators of marine water quality. In Colombia, they have been studied for about 30 years, in which 43 families, 138 genera and 253 species have been identified, from central and north Colombian Caribbean coasts. The aim of this research was the taxonomic analysis of material belonging to the family Terebellidae, deposited in the Invemar Invertebrate Collection. Eight genera and 11 species of terebellids were previously identified; nevertheless, after this research, these numbers were increased to ten genera, and 17 species. The scarce information about polychaetes available in Colombia, and the lack of stardardized, updated taxonomic world revisions, not only for terebellids but also for the entire group of polychaetes, led to many incorrect species identifications, and the belief that some species are cosmopolitan in distribution. Anincrease in funding of basic taxonomic research will permit better estimates of the true polychaete diversity found in Colombian seas.Los poliquetos presentan una amplia diversidad y abundancia en todos los océanos. Su principal importancia radica en su uso como indicadores de calidad del agua, ayudando a identificar contaminación marina. El estudio de estos anélidos en Colombia lleva un poco mas de 30 años, durante los cuales se ha logrado identificar 43 familias, 138 géneros y 253 especies de poliquetos, principalmente de la costa central y norte del Caribe colombiano. El propósito de esta investigación fue analizar taxonómicamente el material correspondiente a la familia Terebellidae depositado en la Colección de Invertebrados de Invemar. El análisis de los ocho géneros y 11 especies previamente reportadas para esta familia, dio como resultado un aumento en ambas categorías, pues se encontró que hay realmente diez géneros y 17 especies. La escasez de información en el país, así como de revisiones taxonómicas mundiales estandarizadas, consistentes y actualizadas, tanto de esta familia como de otras, hace que se identifiquen incorrectamente las especies, considerando algunas especies como cosmopolitas. Por lo tanto, se considera que un incremento en el apoyo a la investigación básica, que apunte hacia el conocimiento de las especies, permitirá estimar la biodiversidad que realmente poseen los mares de Colombia

Poliquetos (Annelida: Polychaeta) como indicadores biológicos de contaminación marina: casos en Colombia

El concepto de Indicador Biológico ha sido usado sin mayor precaución al momento de emplear ciertos organismos en programas de monitoreo ambiental, lo cual genera confusión. Uno de los objetivos de este trabajo fue resaltar la importancia en la consolidación de una definición precisa de este concepto a partir de información disponible, proponiendo una definición para el mismo. Las características ecológicas de los poliquetos permiten que, al estar en contacto permanente con diferentes tipos de contaminantes, respondan bioacumulando, disminuyendo o aumentando su abundancia, según sea la especie, hecho que posiciona este tipo de organismos como potenciales indicadores de contaminación marina. En este artículo se presenta de manera concreta un análisis de la literatura disponible para poliquetos en el campo de los indicadores biológicos, resaltando cómo éstos han sido usados en diferentes metodologías, con ejemplos a internacionales, así como una selección especial para Colombia. De los resultados más sobresalientes se encontró que Capitella capitata es la especie más estudiada al estar asociada con ambientes contaminados a causa del incremento de materia orgánica y es la única especie reportada en el país como indicador biológico usando las técnicas clásicas de bioindicación. Finalmente, se reitera la importancia de iniciar investigaciones sobre los aspectos ecológicos, ecotoxicológicos y bioensayos de laboratorio con otras especies de poliquetos para validar cuáles especies y por qué pueden ser consideradas como indicadores biológicos para el país

Freshwater insects deposited in the Limnology Collection of the University of Antioquia, CLUA-035

The database of aquatic insects collected from freshwater systems in the departments of Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander and Sucre is described. The biological material presented here was part of different projects, such as environmental consulting, as well as field sampling by both undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Institute of Biology, University of Antioquia. The Antioquia’s University Limnology Collection, CLUA-035 has 3209 standardized lots published in online databases that are distributed among 11 orders, 91 families and 235 genera. However, Neuroptera and Orthoptera orders were not identified to lower taxonomic levels.Se describe la base de datos de los insectos acuáticos asociados a sistemas de agua dulce de los departamentos de Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander y Sucre. El material presentado hace parte de diferentes proyectos de consultoría ambiental, salidas de campo de cursos de pregrado del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad de Antioquia, y de muestreos de tesistas de posgrado, entre otros. La Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035, tiene 3209 registros estandarizados y publicados en portales de bases de datos; divididos en 11 órdenes, 91 familias y 235 géneros. No obstante, los órdenes Neuroptera y Orthoptera no fueron identificados a menores niveles taxonómicos

Insectos dulceacuícolas depositados en la Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035

The database of aquatic insects collected from freshwater systems in the departments of Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander and Sucre is described. The biological material presented here was a part of different projects, such as environmental consulting, as well as field sampling by both undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Institute of Biology, University of Antioquia. The Antioquia’s University Limnology Collection, CLUA-035 has 3209 standardized lots published in online databases that are distributed among 11 orders, 91 families and 235 genera. However, Neuroptera and Orthopteraorders were not identified to lower taxonomic levels. Se describe la base de datos de los insectos acuáticos asociados a sistemas de agua dulce de los departamentos de Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander y Sucre. El material presentado hace parte de diferentes proyectos de consultoría ambiental, salidas de campo de cursos de pregrado del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad de Antioquia, y de muestreos de tesistas de posgrado, entre otros. La Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035, tiene 3209 registros estandarizados y publicados en portales de bases de datos; divididos en 11 órdenes, 91 familias y 235 géneros. No obstante, los órdenes Neuroptera y Orthoptera no fueron identificados a menores niveles taxonómicos

Insectos dulceacuícolas depositados en la Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035

Se describe la base de datos de los insectos acuáticos asociados a sistemas de agua dulce de los departamentos de Antioquia, Arauca, Bolívar, Boyacá, Caldas, Cauca, Córdoba, La Guajira, Santander y Sucre. El material presentado hace parte de diferentes proyectos de consultoría ambiental, salidas de campo de cursos de pregrado del Instituto de Biología de la Universidad de Antioquia, y de muestreos de tesistas de posgrado, entre otros. La Colección Limnológica de la Universidad de Antioquia, CLUA-035, tiene 3209 registros estandarizados y publicados en portales de bases de datos; divididos en 11 órdenes, 91 familias y 235 géneros. No obstante, los órdenes Neuroptera y Orthoptera no fueron identificados a menores niveles taxonómicos

Polychaetes as biological indicators in Latin America and the Caribbean

Este artículo cuenta con una adenda, ver DOI: 10.47193/mafis.3422021010606.Los poliquetos (Annelida) son organismos en íntimo contacto con el sedimento donde viven y el agua sobrenadante. El estrés ambiental genera rápidas respuestas en estos organismos que se refleja en los individuos y sus poblaciones, por lo que se utilizan como indicadores biológicos de disturbios y de calidad ambiental. Los poliquetos han sido ampliamente utilizados en monitoreo ambiental y en bioensayos, y muchos estudios ecotoxicológicos se realizan con poliquetos. En casi todos los hábitats bentónicos estos organismos juegan un papel muy importante en la organización y estructura de las comunidades bentónicas y redes tróficas. Son un ítem fundamental en la alimentación de otros invertebrados y de aves migratorias y peces. Los poliquetos también tienen importancia económica para la industria farmacéutica, y de alimentos concentrados para especies marinas de cultivo (peces y crustáceos), en el campo médico y en la bioingeniería, además de la recreativa (acuarofilia, carnada) y por supuesto para el consumo humano. Varios de los índices de impacto ambiental y calidad ambiental existentes se basan en las características de tolerancia/sensibilidad de los organismos bentónicos, y muchos de ellos son poliquetos. Existen unos pocos trabajos de revisión de estos organismos como indicadores, pero todos en idioma inglés. Este trabajo muestra una actualización de los datos referidos a Latinoamérica y el Caribe, e incluye una amplia revisión bibliográfica.Polychaetes (Annelida) are in intimate contact with the sediment where they live and the supernatant water. Environmental stress generates rapid responses in these organisms that are reflected in individuals and their populations, so they are used as biological indicators of disturbance and environmental quality. Polychaetes have been widely used in environmental monitoring and bioassays and many ecotoxicological studies are carried out with polychaetes. In almost all benthic habitats, these organisms play a very important role in the organization and structure of benthic communities and trophic webs. They are a fundamental item in invertebrates feeding and for migratory birds and fishes. Polychaetes are also economically important for the pharmaceutical industry, as concentrated food for cultured marine species (fish and crustaceans), in the medical field and in bioengineering, as well as to recreational (aquarium, bait) and of course for human consumption. Several of the existing environmental impact and quality indices are based on the tolerance/sensitivity characteristics of benthic organisms, and many of them are polychaetes. There are a few revision works of these organisms as indicators, but they are written in English. This work shows an upgrade referring to Latin America including an extensive literature review

Paraeupolymnia garciagomezi Londoño-Mesa, 2006, sp. nov.

Paraeupolymnia garciagomezi sp. nov. Figure 2 A–F Material examined: Type material: Holotype: UMML 0 0 0 0, Paratypes: UMML 22.874 (19) ECOSUR 0 0 58 (4) Card Sound, Florida Key (25 ° 22 N 80 ° 17 W), 30.XII. 1970, collected by Julio García­Gómez, 25 m depth (under the registration number SV 5.30. XII. 1970). Etymology: This species is dedicated to Julio García­Gómez, a passionate, retired invertebrate zoologist, from RSMAS, University of Miami. He has collected and offered me and many other colleagues his important polychaete collections, including this new species. Description: Complete, 94 segments; 44 mm long, thorax 12 mm long and 3 mm wide (Fig. 2 A–C). Some tentacles present, smooth. Thorax with numerous dorsal tubercles, not covering intersegmental lines, on segments 2–14, posteriorly only located laterally near the notopodia. Tubercles arranged in 2–3 irregular transverse rows, not paired nor alternating in position; each tubercle rounded or square, all about same size (Fig. 2 B, C). Tentacular membrane short, with prominent ridges, eyespots absent. Upper lip folded, short, projected forwards. Lower lip as a short membrane projected ventrally, with longitudinal crenulations. Segment one well developed latero­ventrally, surrounding the tentacular membrane laterally, and the lower lip ventrally; dorsally shorter. Fifteen ventral shields from segment 2; those of segments 2 and 3 swollen and fused. The following ones distinct, wider and decreasing in size. One pair of lateral lappets belonging to segment 2 latero­ventrally, and to segment 3 latero­dorsally; oblique to body axis, projected forwards; dorsal edge rounded, projected dorsally, and longer than ventral edge; ventrally attached to the first ventral shield (segment 2) by a thin prolongation; in lateral view, twice length of notopodia, covering segment 1, and part of tentacular membrane. Two pairs of dichotomous branchiae, on segments 2 and 3. First pair longer, three to four levels of ramification; short and stout stalks and transverse crenulations. Pairs of nephridial papillae on segments 3–4 and 6–7, inserted at the base of the second pair of branchiae, and posterodorsally to the notopodium. Notopodial glandular patches pale, surrounding notopodium dorsally on segment 5, and ventrally on segment 6. Seventeen pairs of notopodia from segment 4; notopodia well developed with 12–15 chaetae per fascicle; notochaetae of one size (Fig. 2 D), golden­coloured, simple bilimbate capillaries, slightly curved towards dorsum. Neuropodia from segment 5; well developed and erect in thorax; long, flat, emergent, projected backwards in abdomen. In thorax, neuropodia separated from notopodia by small rounded, emergent papilla­like structure. Uncini golden, in single rows from segment 5–10, in double rows from segment 11–20, in face to face position; in single rows from segment 21 until pygidium. Thoracic uncini MF: 1: 1–2 (Fig. 2 E, F), narrow upper subrostrum, pointed subrostral process, without subrostral appendix; flat lower subrostrum; anterior process and filament both absent; base curved, finishing in an angulated posterior process, without posterior filament. Lower occipitium concave, and upper convex, terminating in a weakly toothed capitium. Abdominal uncini MF: 1: 2–3, similar to thoracic ones. Last 5 abdominal segments reduced in diameter, forming the pygidium; anus wide, surrounded by 20 small and diffused anal papillae. Tube unknown. Var ia t io n: The total length varies from 9 mm to 30 mm; thorax length and width varies from 5 and 1 mm to 8 and 1.5 mm, respectively. Some paratypes have fewer tubercles on the dorsal surface than others, being present only on the most anterior segments, and located laterally on the mid­thorax. More material is needed to determine exactly how much variation occurs for this character. Remarks: This species differs from P. c a r u s by the presence of numerous dorsal tubercles on the anterior thorax, and adjacent to notopodia on the mid­thorax, and in the papillae­like structures present between the noto­ and neuropodium on all thoracic parapodia, and in the number of anal papillae. The presence or absence of eyespots is not useful to distinguish these two species because they can be present or absent in P. c a r u s, while in P. garciagomezi they are always absent. Type locality: Card Sound, Florida Keys, USA. Distribution: Restricted to type locality; in shallow water, 25 m depth.Published as part of Londoño-Mesa, Mario H., 2006, Revision of Paraeupolymnia, and redescription of Nicolea uspiana comb. nov. (Terebellidae: Polychaeta), pp. 21-35 in Zootaxa 1117 on pages 30-31, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17166

Paraeupolymnia Young and Kritzler 1987

Genus Paraeupolymnia Young and Kritzler, 1987 Young and Kritzler, 1987: 687–689.— Hutchings, 1997: 495. — McHugh, 1995: 412. Diagnosis emended: Two pairs of dichotomous branchiae on segments 2 and 3; ventral shields from segment 2 to posterior thorax; only one pair of lateral lappets well­developed, shared by segment 2 ventrally and segment 3 latero­dorsally; ventrally connected to first ventral shield. Anterior thoracic region with or without dorsal tubercles in transverse rows on each segment. Paired parapodia from segment 4, notopodia from segment 4 and continuing for 17 segments, bearing notochaetae as bilimbate smooth­tipped capillaries. Neuropodia from segment 5, in single rows of uncini for first six chaetigers; then, in double rows to end of thorax. Abdomen with uncini in single rows. Uncini avicular, variable number of teeth over main fang, MF: 1: 1–4. Nephridial papillae on segments 3–4 and 6–7, situated dorsally at the base of notopodia. Medium­sized terebellids (10–50 mm). Type species: Paraeupolymnia carus Young and Kritzler, 1987, by original designation. Remarks: The diagnosis had to be emended. Young and Kritzler (1987) characterized the genus by the virtual absence of ventral shields (glandular scutes), lateral lappets on segment two, notopodia (thoracic chaetigers) from segment 3, and uncini in single rows throughout seven neuropodia (chaetigers). McHugh (1995) and Nogueira (2003) state that the genus has ventral shields from segment two to the mid­posterior thorax, thoracic chaetigers from segment 4, and uncini in single rows on the first six neuropodial chaetigers (segments 5–10). Broadening the generic diagnosis of Paraeupolymnia to include species with or without lateral lappets as proposed by Nogueira (2003) is not accepted as the presence of lateral lappets is regarded as a useful and stable generic feature. On the other hand, the presence of dorsal tubercles on the anterior thoracic region is a useful specific character; P. garciagomezi sp. nov. is characterized by this feature, whereas in P. c a r u s the thoracic region is essentially smooth, only with some wrinkles possibly because of fixation. The tubercles present on the first species may be arranged in two or three transversal irregular rows on the dorsal surface of the anterior thorax (segments 2– 14); tubercles may be rounded or square.Published as part of Londoño-Mesa, Mario H., 2006, Revision of Paraeupolymnia, and redescription of Nicolea uspiana comb. nov. (Terebellidae: Polychaeta), pp. 21-35 in Zootaxa 1117 on pages 23-24, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17166

Paraeupolymnia carus Young and Kritzler 1987

Paraeupolymnia carus Young and Kritzler, 1987 Figure 1 A–K Paraeupolymnia carus Young and Kritzler, 1987: 687 –689, fig. 1;— McHugh, 1995: 412;— Hutchings, 1997: 495;— Díaz­Díaz and Liñero­Arana, 2000: 38 –39, fig. 3 i – m;— Londoño­Mesa and Carrera­Parra, 2005: 25 –26, figs. 7 A–D. Material examined: Type material: Paratypes: USNM 98909 (2) North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Belize, Twin Cays (16 ° 50 ’N, 88 °06’W), 9.III. 1984, 2.25 m. Comparative material examined: Florida: AMNH 363 B (from AMNH 363 as Loimia bermudensis) (2) Dry Tortugas, Florida, 1909. Gulf of Mexico: UANL 5509 (2) Pajaros. Veracruz, 27.VI. 2002, Pl. 2 (as Lanicides taboguillae). UANL 5854 (1) Blanca, Veracruz, 21.V. 2002, Pl. 3 (as Lanicides taboguillae). UANL 5985 (1) Hornos, Veracruz, 14.VII. 2002, Pl. 2 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 5495 (2) Pajaros, Veracruz, 6.V. 2001, Pl. 2 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6005 (1) Pajaros, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 2 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6032 (1) Hornos, Veracruz, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 3 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6058 (1) Pajaros, Veracruz, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 1 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6060 (7) Hornos, Veracruz, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 1 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6061 (1) Hornos, Veracruz, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 2 (as Terebella rubra). UANL 6063 (8) Hornos, Veracruz, 30.V. 2003, Pl. 2 (as Eupolymnia nebulosa). ECOSUR TERE 9 (2) Alacranes Reef, Perez Island, 26.VI. 1988. Mexican Caribbean: ECOSUR TERE 9 (1) R/V “Edwin Link”, sta. 2777, Southern Chinchorro (18 ° 26.02 ’N 87 ° 18.82 ’W), 21.VIII. 1990, about 237 m. TERE 9 E 2 (1) Xahauyxol (18 ° 30 ’ 15 ”N 87 ° 45 ’ 32 ”W), 27.IX. 1996, 0.25 m. TERE 9 E 22 (1), TERE 9 E 25 (4) Buenavista (18 ° 30 ’ 42 ”N 87 ° 45 ’ 30 ”W), 27.IX. 1996, 1.1 m. TERE 9 E 2 A 39 (5) Majahual (18 ° 40 ’09.6”N 87 ° 43 ’01.4”W), 30.V. 1997, 0.1 m. TERE 9 (1) Bajo Pepito, Mujeres, VI. 1997, on algae. TERE 9 R 6 (1), TERE 9 R 8 (1) Punta Nizuc, Cancún (21 °02’ 11.7 ”N 86 ° 46 ’ 44.2 ”W), 31.VIII.1997, 2 m. TERE 9 R 7 (2) Punta Nizuc, Cancun (21 °02’ 11.7 ”N 86 ° 46 ’ 44.2 ”W), 1.IX.1997, 2 m. TERE 9 B 2 RB 3 (1) Buenavista (18 ° 30 ’ 42 ”N 87 ° 45 ’ 30 ”W), 31.X. 1997, 0.25 m. TERE 9 (1) Contoy Island (21 ° 30 ’ 8.4 ”N 86 ° 47 ’ 45.3 ”W), 10.VI.1999, 3 m, in Ircinia sp. TERE 9 (2) Lighthouse, Contoy Island (21 ° 30 ’ 34 ”N 86 ° 47 ’ 47 ”W), 1.III. 2001. Panamanian Pacific: UMML P 568 (1) Gulf of Panama (8 ° 56 ’N 79 ° 34 ’W), 13.V. 1967; 0m. Panama Caribbean: ECOSUR TERE 9 (19) Puerto Sherman, Colon, Panama, 2.VI. 2002. ECOSUR TERE 9 (1) Punta Culebra, Balboa, Panama, 30.V. 2002. TERE 9 (1) Puerto Sherman, Colon, Panama, 2.VI. 2002. TERE 9 (11) Club Nautico, Colon, Panama, 3.VI. 2002. Antilles: ZMA V.POL 1203 (1) Puerto Santo, near Carupano, Venezuela, 12.VI. 1936; sandy debris; lower zone. ZMA V.POL 1211 A (6) Tortuga SW coast, 1.VIII. 1936; sandy reef with Acropora cervicornis, 3–4m depth. ZMA V.POL 1473 (1) Curaçao, Piscadera Baai, Central part, SW, Punta Chumbu, 13.XII. 1963; Rhizophora, on rocky shore, many oysters, Styela and Microcosmus, 0– 1m. ZMA V.POL 1550 (1) Grenada, Hog Island, near Point Salines, 8.VIII. 1967; Rhizophora, in mud, 0–0.5m. ZMA V.POL 1551 A (1) Grenada, S coast, near Hog Island, 8.VII. 1967; Thalassia in muddy sand near Rhizophora, 0.5– 1m. ZMA V.POL 1618 (1) Curaçao, Fuik Baai, E corner, 28.X. 1967; Rhizophora, mud, 0–0.5m. ZMA V.POL 1628 (4) Curaçao, Spaanse Water, Brakke Put Ariba, 1.XI. 1968; sandy, with algae, 5m. ZMA V.POL 1633 (2) Curaçao, Spaanse Water, Inner Bay, SW of Landhius Santa Barbara, 1.XI. 1968; muddy, 3m. ZMA V.POL 75 – 60 (1) Bonaire, Arisco Pam 1 A, 22.IX. 1975. AMNH 1265 B (from AMNH 1265 as Loimia medusa annulifilis) (1) Milford Bay, Tobago 28.III. 1918. LEB­Te0000 (3) Guacarapo, Venezuela, 22.V. 1999. Description: Best specimen from paratypes complete, 85 segments, 24 mm long; thorax 7.2 mm, and 3.0 mm wide (Fig. 1 A). Tentacles short. Thoracic dorsal surface smooth, with transverse wrinkles, more marked on anterior region. Tentacular membrane short, with thick prominent ridges; eyespots small, dark, restricted to the mid­lateral sides of the membrane, each group with 12–15. Upper lip with free edge spoon­like, projected forwards; lower lip smooth, thin, slightly swollen. Ventral pharyngeal organ not visible. Segment one dorsally distinct, surrounding the tentacular membrane; ventrally as two wide, swollen lobes lateral to the lower lip. Fifteen ventral shields from segment 2; anterior shields rectangular but broader laterally; shorter from mid­thorax. One pair of lateral lappets belonging to segment 2 latero­ventrally, and to segment 3 latero­dorsally; oblique to body axis, in lateral view three times as long as notopodial length. Ventral lobe free (not connected to any ventral shield), and longer than dorsal lobe. Two pairs of dichotomous branchiae, on segments 2 and 3. First pair longer, three to four levels of ramification; second pair with three levels. Stalks long, thin, smooth. Nephridial papillae not visible. Notopodial glandular patches absent. Seventeen pairs of notopodia from segment 4; notopodia conical with notochaetae all of similar length, simple bilimbate capillaries (Fig. 1 B). Neuropodia from segment 5, sessile in thorax, becoming erect, projecting backwards in abdomen; uncini in single rows from segment 5–10, in double rows from segment 11–20, in face to face position; in single rows from segment 21 until pygidium. Thoracic uncini MF: 1: 3–5 (Fig. 1 C), narrow upper subrostrum, well­developed sub­rostral process, without sub­rostral appendix; concave lower sub­rostrum; anterior process and filament both absent; base curved, terminating in an angular posterior process; lower occipitium concave, and upper convex, ending by toothed capitium. Abdominal uncini MF: 2–3: 4–6 (Fig. 1 D), similar to thoracic ones, but with more secondary teeth. Pygidium short, small, surrounded by about 10 anal papillae. Tube pale green to brown, short and thin, broader than the body of the worm; made of sand attached to mucous membrane. Var ia t io n: Variation in specimens from the Mexican Caribbean includes tentacles with dark transversal bands, dark­brown body colouration, and either with or without eyespots on the tentacular membrane. The total length may vary from 8 mm to 30 mm; the thorax length and width varies from 4–8 and 0.5–1.2 mm, respectively. Type material examined does not have visible nephridial papillae, nevertheless, almost all the additional specimens have paired papillae on segments 3–4, which are rounded and smaller, inserted at the base of the 2 nd pair of branchiae, and at posterior base of the first notopodium, and papillae on segments 6–7, are rounded, sometimes elongated, at posterior base of the 3 rd and 4 th notopodia. Figures 1 E–K illustrate in more detail a specimen from Contoy Island (Mexican Caribbean), with papillae on segments 6 and 7, and some variation in the length of the lateral lappets, and branchiae. Some variation in the size of the paratypes (Fig. 1 A) and the specimens from the Mexican Caribbean (Fig. 1 E–G) are evident. Young & Kritzler (1987) did not mention the method of relaxing and fixation followed; it is assumed that they were fixed in formalin without any prior relaxation. The specimen shown in figure 1 E–G and almost all from the Mexican Caribbean were relaxed using magnesium chloride, and fixed with formalin. Thus, the consistency and shape of the thorax and branchiae could vary between specimens according to the method of fixation. Remarks: Since being described in 1987, this species has only been recorded from Belize. Nevertheless, unsorted terebellids collected by staff of the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam during an expedition in 1967 to the Antilles, contained additional material, and indicates that this species has a wider distribution than previously thought. On the other hand, this species was identified in material from Gulf of Panama, collected by the University of Miami cruises to the Caribbean and Gulf of Panama (see material examined). Some explanations emerge for this amphi­American distribution. One is that the species has been dispersed through the discharge of ballast water, although to date this has not been recorded for any other terebellid, which tend not to have a long pelagic larval stage. Another explanation is that the species already existed on both sides before the rise of the Panama Isthmus; nevertheless, P. c a r u s has not been reported at other sites on the Pacific Ocean (Salazar­Vallejo & Londoño­Mesa, 2004), which gives more weight to the first explanation. Some specimens collected by Díaz­Díaz and Liñero­Arana (2000) were identified as a possible new species for Venezuela, because they were based on the original description of P. c a r u s which states that ventral shields are absent. Following an examination of these specimens, and the emended description for P. carus, based on examination of type material, it is clear that the specimens from Venezuela belong to this species. Material deposited in the AMNH identified as Loimia medusa annulifilis from Tobago, and as Loimia medusa from Dry Tortugas, Florida, included some specimens of P. carus. These findings indicate that this species is widely distributed in the Grand Caribbean region, from Florida to Venezuela. Finally, most of the specimens have been collected in shallow water, between 0–5 m depth; however, one specimen was collected from 237 m depth (R/ V “Edwin Link”), and it does not exhibit any morphological variation from the type series. This is the only deep­water record, and more deep­sea material should be collected to corroborate this finding. Type Locality: Twin Cays, Belize, Caribbean Sea. Distribution: Grand Caribbean region: Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Mexican Caribbean, Belize, Colon (Panama Caribbean), Venezuela, and Lesser Antilles (Bonaire, Curaçao, Grenada, Tortuga), and Balboa (Gulf of Panama, Pacific). Occurs in shallow water (0–5 m), rarely in deep­water (237 m).Published as part of Londoño-Mesa, Mario H., 2006, Revision of Paraeupolymnia, and redescription of Nicolea uspiana comb. nov. (Terebellidae: Polychaeta), pp. 21-35 in Zootaxa 1117 on pages 24-30, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17166

Terebélidos (Terebellidae: Polychaeta: Annelida) del Caribe colombiano

Los poliquetos presentan una amplia diversidad y abundancia en todos los océanos. Su principal importancia radica en su uso como indicadores de calidad del agua, ayudando a identificar contaminación marina. El estudio de estos anélidos en Colombia lleva un poco mas de 30 años, durante los cuales se ha logrado identificar 43 familias, 138 géneros y 253 especies de poliquetos, principalmente de la costa central y norte del Caribe colombiano. El propósito de esta investigación fue analizar taxonómicamente el material correspondiente a la familia Terebellidae depositado en la Colección de Invertebrados de Invemar. El análisis de los ocho géneros y 11 especies previamente reportadas para esta familia, dio como resultado un aumento en ambas categorías, pues se encontró que hay realmente diez géneros y 17 especies. La escasez de información en el país, así como de revisiones taxonómicas mundiales estandarizadas, consistentes y actualizadas, tanto de esta familia como de otras, hace que se identifiquen incorrectamente las especies, considerando algunas especies como cosmopolitas. Por lo tanto, se considera que un incremento en el apoyo a la investigación básica, que apunte hacia el conocimiento de las especies, permitirá estimar la biodiversidad que realmente poseen los mares de Colombia.Artículo revisado por pare