Abstract
Polychaetes of the family Cirratulidae are among the most important macrofaunal invertebrates in deep-sea benthic communities off northern California. The genus Chaetozone includes several species that are among the dominant species in depths of 2400-3200 m. Four of the most common species of Chaetozone are described in this paper. Of these four species, only C. spinosa Moore, 1903 has been previously described. Three other species are new to science. C. brunnea , n. sp. has a short, triangular-shaped prostomium, brown body colour, and an enlarged “stomach” which distends the body in a characteristic pattern. C. allanotai , n. sp. has a unique methyl green staining pattern that provides a means to readily identify juveniles and fragmented adults. A third new species, C. palaea , n. sp has posterior spines that are unusually broad, providing a spectacular armature. These species are compared with the type species, C. setosa from the Arctic. New details concerning segmentation of the anterior end, morphology of the nuchal organs, and posterior spines, represent a suite of characters that, in combination, will be used in a phylogenetic analysis of cirratulid polychaetes.
Highlights
The Cirratulidae are one of the dominant infaunal polychaete families in continental slope sediments off northern California
Most of the taxa from these two programmes are in the genera Chaetozone (8-10 species) and Aphelochaeta
Chaetozone spinosa and two undescribed Chaetozone species are very common and often recorded among the most abundant taxa at selected stations currently being monitored in the 2200-3200 m depth intervals at San Francisco Deep Ocean Disposal Site (SF-DODS)
Summary
The genus Caulleriella is not present in these deep-water collections These results complement the monograph of Blake (1996) who described and illustrated 46 species in eight genera from the northeastern Pacific, mostly from shelf depths and the intertidal zone of California. Chaetozone spinosa and two undescribed Chaetozone species are very common and often recorded among the most abundant taxa at selected stations currently being monitored in the 2200-3200 m depth intervals at SF-DODS. Both of the two undescribed species have distinctive morphology making them readily identifiable in benthic collections.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
