A reconsideration of the sipunculan taxa Fisherana Stephen, Mitosiphon Fisher and Apionsoma Sluiter

Abstract

The sipunculan taxon Fisherana Stephen, erected as a genus, is critically examined. Type material of three of the four originally assigned species is reviewed and Golfingia wasini is shown to be a junior synonym of G. lobostoma. Golfingia savalovi is reduced to a junior synonym of G. capitata. The subgenus Mitosiphon Fisher is considered in light of the recent discovery of the tentacular arrangement of G. murinae and G. misakiana. the tentacles do not surround the mouth but lie dorsal to it as in Phascolosoma. Following an analysis of hook and papilla morphology, including scanning electron microscopy, Fisherana and Mitosiphon are combined into one subgenus of Golfingia and the senior available name is applied: Apionsoma Sluiter, Keys to the species in this subgenus and to the subgenera of Golfingia are included.