The marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Abstract

Forty-one species of Tubificidae are reported from Rottnest Island and adjacent areas, Perth, Western Australia; 25 of these species have not been recorded from the state before. Seventeen new species are described: Heronidrilus clayi, Heterodrilus salmonensis, H. apparatus, Albanidrilus magnificus, Mexidrilus immodicus, Pectinodrilus vitreus, Coralliodrilus mollis, C. unicus, C. angustiductus, C. bidentatus, Duridrilus kimi, Olavius separatus, O. patriciae, O. fusus, O. prodigus, O. (Coralliodriloides) rottnestensis and Smithsonidrilus edgari. Most of the other species are either previously known from more southern localities in Western Australia or are members of a widely distributed Indo-West Pacific fauna. The generic diagnoses of Albanidrilus Erséus, 1992, Coralliodrilus Erséus, 1983, and Duridrilus Erséus, 1983 (all subfamily Phallodrilinae) are slightly emended to accommodate some of the new species. Taxonomic notes are given for several other species.