Scaleworms (polychaeta: polynoidae) of Albany, Western Australia

Abstract

Descriptions are given for nine species of scaleworm (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) recorded from Albany, Western Australia. Five species of Lepidonotus were collected: L. bowerbankii Baird 1865, L. carinulatus (Grube 1870), L. dictyolepis Haswell 1883, L. glaucus (Peters 1854), and L. melanogrammus Haswell 1883. All five species have previously been recorded from Western Australia. Of the remaining species, Subadyte albanyensis is described for the first time, and Paralepidonotus ampulliferus is recorded from Western Australia for the first time. A description of Harmothoe dictyophora (Grube 1878) is given and the taxonomic status of this species is discussed. The status of several species of Thormora previously recorded from Western Australia is reviewed. Examination of specimens of Thormora species collected at Albany revealed significant variation in setal characteristics upon single individuals. The presence of unidentate or bidentate neurosetae and slender hastate notosetae was dependent on the size of the individual. Reference to the original descriptions of Thormora versicolor, T. jolli and the type material of Thormora jolli indicates that Western Australian specimens formerly ascribed to these two species should be referred to Thormora argus (Quatrefages 1865). Biogeographic relationships of the species recorded from Albany are discussed with reference to Australian and Indo-Pacific scaleworm faunae.