Revision of Ceratonereis Kinberg, 1865 recorded from the Caribbean Sea, with description of two new Ceratonereis species and a new combination of Platynereis Kinberg, 1865

Abstract

Currently, there are four recorded species of Ceratonereis Kinberg, 1865 in the Caribbean Sea; three of them are regarded as amphiamerican or widespread. This review intends to improve the current knowledge of these Ceratonereis species; descriptions and illustrations are presented based on type and additional material, including new records. After the examination of type material, the synonymy of Ceratonereis gracilis (Webster, 1884) with C. mirabilis Kinberg, 1865 is rejected, and C. gracilis is reinstated. Ceratonereis maya n. sp. is described based on records of C. excisa Grube & Müller in Grube, 1873 and C. singularis Treadwell, 1929, and C. nancyae n. sp. is described based on records of C. mirabilis, from the Caribbean Sea. The examination of the type material of Nereis singularis Treadwell, 1943 showed it is not a species of Ceratonereis but belongs in Platynereis Kinberg, 1865, and the new combination Platynereis singularis is proposed. The epitokal morphology of the available specimens is described and discussed. Epitokes of Ceratonereis show more than one epitokal pattern, raising questions about the use of epitokal morphology to define genera or species. An annotated key for American Ceratonereis species is also included.