Two New Records of Eunicidae (Annelida, Errantia) Along the Makran Coast of Pakistan, Northern Arabian Sea

Abstract

The Makran coast of Pakistan in the Northern Arabian Sea is a region of high biodiversity yet remains relatively under-studied in terms of polychaete fauna. In this study, we presented detailed morphological and taxonomical analyses of two newly discovered species of Eunicidae polychaetes, Eunice indica and Lysidice ninetta, collected during low tide from the intertidal zone of two stations along the Makran coast: Shamal Bandar, Pasni dated 31st January 2022 and Taak Beach, Ormara, dated 31st January 2022. Before our study, only 12 species of Eunicidae were known to occur in Pakistan. The identification and description of E. indica and L. ninetta provide important information about the distribution and taxonomy of Eunicid polychaetes on the Makran coast. These findings emphasize the need for further investigations and highlight the potential for discovering additional species within the region.