On the genus Spirobranchus (Annelida, Serpulidae) from the northern Red Sea, and a description of a new species

• DOI: 10.1071/is17061
• Publication Date: 2018-05-06T23:24:08Z
• Authors: Orly Perry; Omri Bronstein; Noa Simon-Blecher; Ayelet Atkins; Elena Kupriyanova; Harry ten Hove; Oren Levy; Maoz Fine
• Keywords: PhyloCode

Species of the genus Spirobranchus, commonly known as Christmas tree worms, are abundant throughout tropical Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Information on species inhabiting Red Sea in general Gulf Eilat (Gulf Aqaba) particular, has so far been very limited. Here we present a multigene phylogenetic analysis, examining both mitochondrial (Cyt-b) nuclear (ITS2 18S) markers, to support presence four distinct Spirobranchus Eilat: S. corniculatus (including three taxa previously regarded full species: gaymardi, cruciger, corniculatus), cf. tetraceros, gardineri new aloni, likely endemic two morphotypes with slightly different opercular morphology). The results presented here emphasise that combination molecular in-depth morphological evaluation holds great prospects for better understanding divergence relationships.