Abstract

We provide a systematic account of the family Polynoidae (Annelida) from deep waters (> 1000 m) around Australia. Specimens were collected during surveys to the Great Australian Bight (2013–2017), east coast of Australia (2017), and southern seamounts off Tasmania (1997–2018). The taxonomic account includes 21 species from 12 genera, with accepted or provisional names, and we further describe nine new species. New species from four subfamilies described here include Arctonoinae: Parahololepidella mensa sp. nov.; Lepidastheniinae: Anotochaetonoe rubermaculata sp. nov.; Macellicephalinae: Bruunilla magnantennata sp. nov., Bruunilla posteroantennata sp. nov., and Polaruschakov investigatoris sp. nov.; Polynoinae: Eunoe albacauda sp. nov., Eunoe apicolata sp. nov., Eunoe benhami sp. nov., and Eunoe danmurrayi sp. nov. An additional 11 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) are represented by incomplete material. One species is given a new status: Eunoe abyssorum McIntosh, 1885 nomen dubium. One species previously placed in Bathyedithia Pettibone, 1976 is given a new combination as Polaruschakov retierei (Bonifácio & Menot, 2018) comb. nov. Two species formerly placed in Lagisca Malmgren, 1865 are new combinations as Harmothoe longipalpa Kirkegaard, 1995 comb. nov. and Harmothoe torbeni (Kirkegaard, 1995) comb. nov. Polyeunoa monroi Averincev, 1978 is recognised as a valid species distinct from Parapolyeunoa flynni (Benham, 1921), rather than a synonym of that species as previously suggested. We provide a phylogenetic analysis based on COI, 16S, 18S and 28S gene fragments placing our new taxa within the family Polynoidae. Molecular results support three monophyletic subfamilies Admetellinae, Macellicephalinae, and Polynoinae. This study provides the first comprehensive review of deep-water polynoids from Australia.

 
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Bibliographic Data

Short Form
Murray et al. 2025. Rec. Aust. Mus. 77(4): 193-269
Author
Anna Murray; Ingo Burghardt; Laetitia M. Gunton; Nishath Mohamed Nizar; Mark Nikolic; and Robin S. Wilson
Year
2025
Title
Polynoidae (Annelida) from bathyal and abyssal depths in southern and eastern Australia
Serial Title
Records of the Australian Museum
Volume
77
Issue
4
Start Page
193
End Page
169
DOI
10.3853/j.2201-4349.77.2025.1904
Language
en
Date Published
01 October 2025
Cover Date
01 October 2025
ISSN (online)
2201-4349
ISSN (print)
0067-1975
CODEN
RAUMAJ
Publisher
Australian Museum
Place Published
Sydney, Australia
Subjects
Annelida, Taxonomy, Australia
Digitized
01 October 2025
Available Online
01 October 2025
Reference Number
1904
EndNote
1904
Title Page
1904_Page_1
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Complete Work
1904_Complete
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