Species of the subgenus Minuspio (Polychaeta: Spionidae: Prionospio) from the southern coast of Turkey (Levantine Sea, eastern Mediterranean), with the description of two new species

Abstract

Three species belonging to the subgenus Minuspio are described from the southern coast of Turkey. Prionospio (Minuspio) anatolica sp. nov., and Prionospio (Minuspio) maciolekae sp. nov. are new to science and P. (M.) pulchra is a new report for the marine fauna of the Levantine and Black Sea coasts of Turkey. Prionospio (M.) anatolica sp. nov., differs from all other Prionospio (M.) species by the shape of the prostomium, branchiae, and the absence of eyes. This species has 7 pairs of long, apinnate branchiae on chaetigers 2 to 8. Prionospio (M.) maciolekae sp. nov., differs from other Prionospio (M.) species in having short, densely ciliated branchiae and distinct dorsal crests on chaetigers 10–28. The examination of older materials deposited at the Museum of Ege University (ESFM) revealed that Prionospio (M.) pulchra, an alien invasive species, also occurred in the Aegean and Black Seas since 2000. In the Mediterranean, this species seems to be first noticed from the Italian waters (Tyrrhenian Sea, Lago di Sabaudia) and misidentified as Prionospio cirrifera. These species were encountered on a variety of biotopes in the region. In addition, two specimens of P. (M.) multibranchiata collected near the type locality (Bazan Bay, Pacific coast of Canada) were examined and a redescription of this species was made. The morphology, ecology and distribution of these species are given together with a taxonomic key to all valid species of the subgenus Minuspio.