First Report of a <i>Paucibranchia</i> (Polychaeta, Eunicidae) Species without Lateral Palps in Korean Subtidal Waters, with Genetic Evidence for Its Taxonomic Position

oleh: Dae Hun Kim, Ho Young Soh, Man-Ki Jeong

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-12-01

Deskripsi

An undescribed species belonging to the family Eunicidae was detected in a sublittoral habitat of the southern coast of Korea. This Korean eunicid species was initially thought to belong to the genus <i>Lysidice</i> based on its general appearance, including the absence of prostomial lateral palps and peristomial cirri. However, a more detailed characterization of the morphological features of the maxillae and mandible coupled with mtCOI and 18S rRNA gene sequence analyses confirmed that this species is a member of the genus <i>Paucibranchia</i>. The absence of lateral palps found in the intact adult specimens with 153 segments is a unique feature not previously reported in species belonging to <i>Paucibranchia</i>. Thus, the new species, <i>Paucibranchia triantennata</i> sp. nov., can be easily distinguished from other known congeneric species. Except for the absence of lateral palps, <i>P. triantennata</i> sp. nov. resembled <i>P. conferta</i>, <i>P. gathofi</i>, and <i>P. patriciae</i> in the shape of the prostomium, brief location and shape of branchiae, and absence of compound spinigers. However, <i>P. triantennata</i> could be clearly distinguished from these species by the shorter prostomial antennae, a large number of subacicular hooks, and the morphological features of the maxillae and compound falcigers.