[Serpulids (Polychaeta: Serpulidae) from the Northwestern Caribbean with keys to the Grand Caribbean region: Salmacina, Ficopomatus, Pomatoceros, Pomatostegus, Protula, Pseudovermilia, Spirobranchus and Vermiliopsis].
From the revision of more than 1,250 serpulids, 15 species from the Grand Caribbean Region were identified and characterized. Thirteen species were collected along the shores of the Yucatan Peninsula and eight were found in other localities in the Gulf of Mexico, seven others are from Cuba and comments on type specimens of two species are also included. Three morphometric analyses were made to evaluate some characters. The first on Pomatostegus stellatus (Abildgaard), and related species and subspecies: P. brachysoma Schmarda, P. macrosoma Schmarda, P. s. fruticosa Mörch, P. s. pentapoma Mörch and P. s. tetrapoma Mörch, indicated that they are conspecific. Another one on Spirobranchus de Blainville species: S. dendropoma Mörch, S. giganteus (Pallas), S. polycerus (Schmarda) and S. polycerus augeneri ten Hove; indicated that S. giganteus differs from the other three taxa. The third analysis was made on Vermiliopsis annulata (Schmarda) sensu lato; it allowed the recognition of three different forms. Several incomplete specimens might belong to an undescribed genus. A key for identification of all the species recorded in the Grand Caribbean Region is also included.
Bastida-Zavala
J R
JR
El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Dep. de Ecología Acuática, Apdo. Postal 424, Chetumal, C.P. 77000, QROO, México. rolando@ecosur-qroo.mx
Salazar-Vallejo
S I
SI
D000818:Animals; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D017691:Caribbean Region; D003462:Cuba; D008800:Mexico; D011077:Polychaeta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D012623:Seawater