A newOphryotrochaspecies (Polychaeta: Dorvilleidae) from circalittoral seabeds of the Cantabrian Sea (north-east Atlantic Ocean)

Abstract

One new dorvilleid species belonging to the genusOphryotrochaClaparède & Mecznikow, 1869 is described. The studied material was collected in circalittoral seabeds (70–100 m depth) in the Cantabrian Sea (north-east Atlantic Ocean). The new speciesOphryotrocha cantabricais characterized by having well-developed antennae and palps, parapodia with long dorsal cirrus, sub-triangular acicular lobes and inferior chaetal lobe well-developed, as well as the presence of P-type maxillae and bifid mandibles slightly tagged. The most closely relatedOphryotrochaspecies areO. longidentataJosefson, 1975 andO. lobiferaOug, 1978; however, both species have biarticulated palps. Other differences withO. cantabricasp. nov. are: body size and shape, parapodia morphology and number of setae, as well as the shape of mandibles and maxillae.