Description of a New Species of Oligobrachia (Pogonophora) from the North Atlantic, With a Survey of the Oligobrachiidae

Abstract

Collections of bottom-living animals from the continental slope of the northern Bay of Biscay contain a new species of Oligobrachia; this increases the number of species of Oligobrachia known from the North Atlantic to five. Oligobrachiids are quite frequently found incubating embryos and five individuals of the new species carry embryos. Oligobrachia embryos have been studied morphologically already (Ivanov, 1957, 1975; Southward & Southward, 1963; Brattegard, 1966; Ivanov & Gureeva, 1976) and should prove useful material for experimental studies in future. Incubation is also known in the family Siboglinidae, but neither embryos nor larvae have been seen in any other pogonophoran families. The Biscay collections also contain additional specimens of Oligobrachia ivanovi and these have been useful in revising the description of this rather rare species.