11 research outputs found
\uc9tude Ann\ue9lides du Golfe de Marseille
Volume: 2Start Page: 1End Page: 10
Inter-population variability and character description in the sponge-associated Haplosyllis spongicola complex (Polychaeta: Syllidae)
18 páginas, 17 figuras, 3 tablas.Haplosyllis spongicola is probably the most representative symbiotic syllid harboured by sponges and has been
widely reported from tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Its external morphology seems to be very well adapted
for its life-style, with all chaetae being simple and having two small teeth and a large main fang. However, the
species has been the subject of a long-lasting taxonomic controversy, which gave rise to more than 15 synonymies,
with hundreds of records worldwide. The present paper is based on the study of more than 28 populations obtained
from around the world. These populations have been carefully analysed using different approaches (morphometry,
morphology and biology). As a consequence, the existence of a pseudo-sibling species-complex within the socalled
cosmopolitan H. spongicola has been revealed. The most relevant characters (as well as their variability)
that will allow a future identification of the species involved in the complex are fully described, illustrated and
analysed.The study has been
partly financed by a research contract between the
CEAB (CSIC) and French company CREOCEAN and
has been partly sponsored by TOTAL. This paper is
a contribution to the research project INTAS–OPEN–97–0916.Peer reviewe