First records of the echiurans Anelassorhynchus semoni (Fischer, 1896) and A. mucosus (Ikeda, 1904) from the east coast of southern Africa (Echiuroinea: Echiuridae)

Abstract

Two species of echiurans (Echiura), Anelassorhynchus semoni (Fischer, 1896) and A. mucosus (Ikeda, 1904), were collected from the intertidal rocky shores at Perriers Rock on the Kwazulu-Natal north coast. This is the first known record of these species from South African waters. Anelassorhynchus semoni was originally described from two specimens from Indonesia. It was later recorded from the Maldive Islands and from the coast of West Africa in the North-East Atlantic in the vicinity of Senegal. The original description of A. mucosus is based on three specimens from Moroiso, Misaki Marine Station, Japan. It was later recorded from Korea. The discovery of these two species of echiurans from the east coast of South Africa considerably extends their geographical ranges. Both species are briefly redescribed and some of the taxonomic characters are reviewed.