The genus Haplosyllis Langerhans, 1879 (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from northeastern Brazil, with descriptions of two new species

Abstract

Two new species of Haplosyllis collected along the coast off northeastern Brazil are described. Haplosyllis amphimedonicola sp. nov. lives in close association with the sponge Amphimedon viridis and is characterized by having midbody dorsal cirri alternating long (with 3–7 articles) and short (with 1–3 articles), with long cirri not reaching half the body width. Ciliated anus dorsally and pair of smooth to irregularly articulated anal cirri; chaetae bidentate, often with eroded tips, main fang about same length or shorter than shaft width, mid-joining point straight and long, upper side of main fang with few, short denticles. Haplosyllis rosenalessoae sp. nov. is characterized by having body wall of midbody to posterior chaetigers with internal iridescent and granulose inclusions, arranged in continuous transverse rows across chaetigers, broader laterally, at base of parapodia, progressively narrower towards dorsal mid-line. Bidentate chaetae, with long and pointed main fang, about same width as shaft, slightly stouter posteriorly. Chaetae on posterior parapodia with apical teeth very close to each other, nearly unidentate at first glance, upper side of main fang smooth; 2–3 aciculae in each midbody parapodium. A table comparing all valid species of Haplosyllis is provided.