A synopsis of Salvatoria McIntosh, 1885 (Annelida: Syllidae: Exogoninae) from Brazilian coastal and oceanic waters.

We compiled the records for the genus Salvatoria from Brazilian coastal and oceanic habitats, collected by several projects along the years. Here we present 12 species, eight of which already reported-S. breviarticulata comb. nov., S. clavata, S. euritmica, S. heterocirra, S. limbata, S. longiarticulata comb. nov., S. neapolitana and S. cf. nitidula-with comments regarding the confidence of some of these records. We also describe three new species, S. marielleae n. sp. and Salvatoria nitiduloides n. sp., based on material from Fernando de Noronha and Trindade islands, off the Northeastern Brazilian coast, and S. ypsiloides n. sp., from Fernando de Noronha and also, Campos Basin, off Southeastern Brazilian coast, in depths down to 970 m. Finally, we report a probably undescribed species, Salvatoria sp., represented by only one specimen lacking median antenna, preventing us to proceed with further identification properly. A dichotomous identification key and a comparative table with morphological data of specimens belonging to these species are also provided.

A new species of the genus Amphicteis Grube, 1850 (Annelida, Ampharetidae) from the Yellow Sea, China, together with a redescription of A. dalmatica Hutchings & Rainer, 1979.

A new species of the ampharetid genus Amphicteis, A. hwanghaiensis sp. nov., is described based on material from the Yellow Sea. The new species is characterized by the possession of long, stout, golden paleae with blunt tips, digitiform rudimentary notopodia on the abdominal uncinigers, uncini with a subrostral process, and a narrow rectangular hump separating branchial groups. Amphicteis dalmatica was redescribed from type materials at the Australian Museum, Sydney, and the differences between A. dalmatica and A. hwanghaiensis sp. nov. are discussed. A key to distinguish Amphicteis species described or reported in Western Pacific waters is provided.

The genus Thelepus Leuckart, 1849 (Annelida, Thelepodidae) in Brazil, with a redescription of the holotype of T. setosus (Quatrefages, 1866).

The genus Thelepus Leuckart, 1849 is well known in Brazilian waters, from a species recorded by several authors as T. setosus (Quatrefages, 1866), which is considered to be a cosmopolitan species. However, the type locality of T. setosus is in France, which renders the presence of this species in Brazilian waters rather unlikely. The wide range of distribution of T. setosus is most likely due to misidentifications, especially because the original description of the species is very brief and does not include several characters now relevant at species level. We provide herein a redescription of the holotype of T. setosus and describe two new species from Brazilian material previously identified as belonging to that species. Thelepus megalabiatum n. sp. is characterised by having an expanded lower lip extending ventrally, many branchial filaments, originating from swollen cushions, with wide mid-dorsal gap between filaments within pairs, 26-33 segments with glandular areas, and 44-61+ pairs of notopodia. Thelepus brevitori n. sp. is characterised by having fewer branchial filaments, originating directly from the body wall, about 17 segments highly glandular ventrally, and up to 27 pairs of notopodia. Both new species are compared to the most similar congeners, including T. setosus.

Helobdella buzz n. sp. (Clitellata: Hirudinida), a bromeliad leech from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.

Tank bromeliads are important components of tropical forests and are capable of hosting many species of invertebrates in their tank water, such as insect larvae, ostracods and oligochaetes (Frank & Lounibos 2009; Jocque & Field 2014; Richardson 1999).

Deep sea Syllidae (Annelida, Phyllodocida) from Southwestern Atlantic.

We describe herein ten species of Syllidae from the Southern Brazil continental slope (700-2000 m deep), belonging to the genera Anguillosyllis, Exogone, Parexogone, Prosphaerosyllis, Sphaerosyllis and Syllis. Out of those, three species are new to science and six are formally reported for Brazil for the first time. Some synonymies are proposed and a taxonomic key for all described species of the genus Anguillosyllis is provided.

Two new species and new records of the genus Paraopisthosyllis Hartmann-Schröder, 1991 (Annelida: Syllidae) from northeastern Brazil and Philippine Islands.

Two new species of Paraopisthosyllis are described herein, P. correiae sp. nov. (State of Pernambuco, NE Brazil) and P. kuluguhin sp. nov. (Philippines). Paraopisthosyllis correiae sp. nov. represents the first record for the genus in Brazilian waters and it is also the second species known to occur outside the Pacific Ocean. This species is characterized by having a marked color pattern, with a transverse red stripe between dorsal cirri on each segment and an inverted V anteriorly and a V posteriorly on some segments, small papillae on body, large, distinct papillae on dorsal cirri, compound chaetae with elongated, bidentate blades, shafts with moderate subdistal serration on margin, pharyngeal tooth located on anterior third of pharynx, near the pharyngeal opening, and reproduction by schizogamy. Paraopisthosyllis kuluguhin sp. nov. represents the first report of the genus for the Philippines, together with P. pardus, originally known from Australia and also found in the Philippines in the present study. This new species is characterized by its color pattern, with dark patches irregularly distributed on anterior segments, forming one anterior pigmented short band and two lateral areas on each chaetiger after the proventricle, club-shaped dorsal cirri, and short, bidentate compound chaetae. Our findings allow us to synonymize the genus Basidiosyllis to Paraopisthosyllis and represent the first report of sexual stolons (scissiparity) in this genus, which supports its allocation into the subfamily Syllinae.

Branchiosyllis, Haplosyllis, Opisthosyllis and Trypanosyllis (Annelida: Syllidae) from Brazil, with the Description of Two New Species.

Brazilian specimens of Branchiosyllis cf. exilis, B. tamandarensis sp. n., Haplosyllis lattigae sp. n., H. loboi, Opisthosyllis brunnea and O. viridis are described and illustrated herein, from recently collected material; also, the distributions of Haplosyllis amphimedonicola and H. rosenalessoae are expanded to other localities in the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco. Branchiosyllis tamandarensis sp. n. was found associated with sponges and is characterized by having a flattened, ribbon-like body, with longitudinal line of mid-dorsal papillae, peristomium dorsally inconspicuous, branchiae with up to six lobes, branchiae and ungulae on all parapodia, and falcigers absent. Haplosyllis lattigae sp. n. is characterized by having two kinds of chaetae with different sizes and shapes per parapodium, papillate dorsum from midbody, and midbody dorsal cirri alternating in length. Additionally, we provide keys to the Brazilian species of Branchiosyllis, Haplosyllis and Opisthosyllis, comparative tables of the new species described herein and selected similar congeners, and the first record for Trypanosyllis zebra in the states of Espírito Santo and Paraíba.

Amblyosyllis, Eusyllis, Odontosyllis, Perkinsyllis and Streptodonta (Annelida: Syllidae) from Brazil, with descriptions of two new species and new records for the country.

We present herein the first records for Amblyosyllis, Eusyllis and Perkinsyllis from northeastern Brazil, describing and illustrating Amblyosyllis sp., Eusyllis kupfferi and E. lamelligera, which are compared to the morphologically most similar congeners; a brief diagnosis is provided for Eusyllis nonatoi, Odontosyllis aracaensis, O. guarauensis, O. guillermoi and Perkinsyllis biota, described from southeastern Brazil. In addition, a new species of Odontosyllis is described, O. brevichaetosa sp. n., characterized by having short, bidentate falciger blades with inverted dorso-ventral gradation in length, and shafts of ventralmost falcigers from midbody parapodia onwards subdistally inflated, with sigmoid tip. A key for the valid Brazilian species of Odontosyllis is provided. Finally, this is also the first account of the genus Streptodonta for the South Atlantic, with the description of S. fauchaldi sp. n., characterized by a distinct distribution pattern of cilia along body, presence of spiniger-like chaetae, and morphology of falciger blades.

New species and new records of Terebellidae (Annelida: Terebelliformia) from off the Brazilian coast.

Three new species of Terebellidae Grube, 1850 were identified among material collected on hard substrates off the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. These species are Lanicola hutchingsae sp. nov., Eupolymnia corae sp. nov., and Neoleprea potiguara sp. nov., all herein described and compared with the morphologically most similar congeners. Lanicola hutchingsae sp. nov., is characterized by having lobes of segment 2-3 reaching beyond segment 1, with dorsal margin extending dorsally, covering bases of branchiae, and uncini with 3 rows of secondary teeth above main fang. Eupolymnia corae sp. nov., has lobes of segment 2 laterally higher, with dorsal margins rounded, and lobes of segments 3 and 4 progressively shorter, roughly triangular, with pointed tips, pairs of branchiae progressively shorter, all longitudinally aligned, and uncini throughout with 3 rows of secondary teeth above main fang. Neoleprea potiguara sp. nov., is characterized by having notopodia up to the segment 23, with nephridial papillae on segment 3 and genital papillae on segments 6-19. These are the first records for the genera Lanicola Hartmann-Schröder, 1986 and Neoleprea Hessle, 1917 in Brazilian waters.

Varanusia nom. nov., a replacement name for Lizardia Nogueira, Hutchings & Carrerette, 2015 (Annelida: Terebellidae), preoccupied by Lizardia Pleijel & Rouse, 2005.

Nogueira et al. (2015) proposed the generic name Lizardia to accommodate L. quasimodo Nogueira, Hutchings & Carrerette, 2015, an abranchiate terebellid from Lizard Island with only 9 pairs of notopodia beginning from segment 4 and bearing both distally smooth and distally serrated notochaetae, and neuropodia beginning from segment 6.

Review of Amaeana Hartman, 1959 (Annelida, Terebelliformia, Polycirridae), with descriptions of seven new species.

Prior to the present study, seven species of Amaeana were known, A. accraensis (Augener, 1918), A. antipoda (Augener, 1926), A. apheles (Hutchings, 1974), A. colei (McIntosh, 1926), A. occidentalis (Hartman, 1944), A. trilobata (Sars, 1863), which is the type-species, and A. yirrarn Hutchings, 1997. Except for A. colei and A. antipoda, for which types could not be located, type material or material from the type localities of all these species was examined and re-descriptions are provided; also, a lectotype is designated for A. trilobata, while A. colei and A. antipoda are considered as nomen nuda. In addition, seven new species are described, one from Brazil, A. brasiliensis sp. nov., another from Taiwan, A. hsiehae sp. nov., and five from Australia, A. angulus sp. nov., A. breviachaeta sp. nov., A. crassispinulata sp. nov., A. dampierensis sp. nov., and A. ellobophora sp. nov. A discussion on the most important characters to distinguish between the species of Amaeana is provided, together with a comparative table and a key to all currently known species.

The genus Loimia Malmgren, 1866 (Annelida: Terebellidae) off the Brazilian coast, with description of three new species and notes on some morphological characters of the genus.

Three new species of Loimia were collected along the Brazilian coast, during some independent projects, from shallow to deep waters off the continental slope. These species are L. megaoculata sp. nov., L. armata sp. nov., and L. brasiliensis sp. nov., all herein described and compared with the morphologically most similar congeners. Loimia megaoculata sp. nov., is characterized by having large, dark eyespots, progressively smaller from dorso-laterally towards lateral basal part of prostomium; lobes of segment 1 are distally rounded, roughly circular, barely reaching mid-length of upper lip; uncini have up to 6-7 teeth, including basal-most tooth. Loimia armata sp. nov., lacks eyespots; stout lobes of segment 1 nearly reach level of upper lip; uncini have up to 7-8 teeth, including basal-most tooth. Loimia brasiliensis sp. nov., has two narrow rows of eyespots; lobes of segment 1 are thin, reaching mid-length of upper lip; uncini have 5-6 teeth, including basal-most tooth. We provide a brief discussion on the main morphological characters useful for the taxonomy of this genus, such as presence of eyespots, and morphology of lobes of segments 1 and 3, of mid-ventral pads and neurochaetae. Up to now only two species had been recorded from Brazil, namely L. grubei and L. medusa, both doubtful records, as discussed along this paper.

The genus Exogone (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from the Brazilian coast, with the description of a new species.

A new species of Exogone, E. gigas sp. n., is described herein, together with E. africana, E. arenosa, E. dispar, E. naidinoides, E. rolani, and E. simplex, collected along the Brazilian coast, including new morphological details. The distribution of E. breviantennata is expanded to include the states of Espírito Santo, Paraíba and Pernambuco. Exogone gigas sp. n. is characterized by having a large median antenna, the absence of dorsal cirri on chaetiger 2, and having a triangular process and minute spines on the shaft of the spiniger-like chaetae on chaetiger 2. The Brazilian specimens are compared to the morphologically most similar congeners. A key for the species described in this paper is provided.

Four new species of Polycirrus Grube, 1850 (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) from Campos Basin, southeastern Brazil.

Four new species of Polycirrus were collected at the Campos Basin, state of Rio de Janeiro, during a survey coordinated by CENPES/PETROBRAS under the scope of the project, "Environmental Heterogeneity in the Campos Basin". These species are P. nonatoi sp. nov., P. papillosus sp. nov., P. breviuncinatus sp. nov., and P. habitats sp. nov. All these species are herein described and compared with the morphologically most similar congeners. In addition, a key is provided for the identification of the species of Polycirrus which have been originally described for the Brazilian coast.

Species of Odontosyllis Claparède, 1863 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Syllidae) occurring along the Brazlian coast.

Two new species of Odontosyllis were found in samples collected mainly on rocky shores off the states of São Paulo (SE Brazil) and Paraíba (NE Brazil). Odontosyllis aracaensis sp. nov., and O. guarauensis sp. nov., are herein described and compared to their most similar congeners. A key for the species found in Brazil is provided, and relevant morphological characters of similar species of the genus, based on falcigers morphology, are summarized and compared with those of the newly described species. The current state of knowledge on the genus is briefly discussed.

Comparative internal structure of dorsal lips and radiolar appendages in Sabellidae (Polychaeta) and phylogenetic implications.

Fan worms (Sabellidae) possess paired modified prostomial structures at the base of the radiolar crown, dorso-lateral to the mouth, called dorsal lips. The dorsal lips are involved in the sorting of particles collected by the radiolar crown. The range of variation in the morphology of dorsal lips is extensive, and probably this is not only due to adaptations to different environments and feeding preferences but also due to phylogenetic constraints. In this study, we describe and compare the morphology of dorsal lips in a range of sabellid taxa based on histological cross-sections of these structures, and compare our data and terminology with those of previous studies. Dorsal lips are maintained erect in most taxa by a modified radiole fused to them known as dorsal radiolar appendage. We suggest that dorsal radiolar appendages with an internal supporting axis (cellular or acellular) and probably also the ventral lips are synapomorphies of the family.

Fauna living in colonies of Mussismilia hispida (Verrill) (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in four South-eastern Brazil islands

Colonies of Mussismilia hispida were collected in four south-eastern Brazil islands and fixed in formalin. Volume, living and basal areas of each coral head were measured. Animals found over, under and inside the corals were sorted, resulting in 9657 specimens belonging to more than 130 taxa. The underside of the colonies was occupied by bivalves and colonial forms of sponges, bryozoans and ascidians. On the living surface, barnacles and cryptochiridean crabs were detected. The endolithic animals included polychaetes, bivalves and sipunculid worms. Most of the animals collected were vagile microcrustaceans. In general, the corals in this ecosystem: (1) act as a nursery place for the community; (2) provide protection for many species also found in other habitats; (3) support a community mainly omnivorous and detritivorous; (4) are initially colonised randomly