Identification of the shell-boring parasite Polydora hoplura (Annelida: Spionidae) on wild stocks of Pecten maximus in Galician waters, NW Spain

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2022.107750
• Publication Date: 2022-03-12T15:49:38Z
• Authors: Bruno Almón; Jacinto Pérez-Dieste; Alejandro de Carlos; Rafael Bañón
• Keywords: Spionidae; Pecten maximus; Annelid

Infestations by shell-boring polychaetes have been gaining attention in recent years due to the harmful effects that their presence can pose growth and production of marine bivalves worldwide. The Galician region, located north-western corner Iberian Peninsula, is one major producers word therefore highly dependent on this industry. finding an unknown polychaete boring into shells king scallop, Pecten maximus, has raised authorities its potential harm exploitable populations economical losses could entail. results from morphological examination revealed spionid Polydora hoplura as only species present. DNA a specimen was extracted mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene partially sequenced for comparison with published sequences confirmation identification. Consequently, we report first time area infestation wild harvested P. maximus mud worm hoplura. cosmopolitan invader threat scallop exploitation Galicia; economic impacts need be evaluated.