Zoological Studies

Vol. 45 No. 4, 2006

Intertidal Species of Branchiomma Kölliker and Pseudobranchiomma Jones (Polychaeta: Sabellidae: Sabellinae) Occurring on Rocky Shores along the State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

João Miguel de Matos Nogueira1,*, Maíra Cappellani Silva Rossi1, and Eduardo López2

1Laboratório de Poliquetologia, IB - USP, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, R. do Matão, Travessa 14, n. 101, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. E-mail: nogueira@ib.usp.br; lapol@ib.usp.br
2Laboratorio de Biología Marina e Invertebrados, Departamento de Biología, Unidad de Zoología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain. E-mail: eduardo.lopez@uam.es

João Miguel de Matos Nogueira, Maíra Cappellani Silva Rossi, and Eduardo López (2006) Four species of sabelline sabellids collected intertidally on rocky shores off the State of São Paulo are herein described. Among these species, Pseudobranchiomma paraemersoni sp. nov., P. paulista sp. nov., and Branchiomma patriota sp. nov. are new to science and B. luctuosum Grube is a new occurrence for the Brazilian coast. Pseudobranchiomma paraemersoni sp. nov. is a small species, with 4-6 thoracic chaetigers and 3 or 4 pairs of lateral serrations on the radiolar flanges. Pseudobranchiomma paulista sp. nov. is a relatively large species, with 6-10 thoracic chaetigers and 10-19 pairs of lateral serrations on the radiolar flanges. Branchiomma patriota sp. nov. has an unpaired basalmost row of stylodes and long and short stylodes irregularly distributed along the radioles, with the longest up to 4 times as long as the shortest. Comparisons with the closest congeners are provided for each of these new species, and a possible synapomorphy for Pseudobranchiomma is proposed based on the pigmentation of the crown in live material. Some speculations about the presence of B. luctuosum in Brazil are made, as we consider it to be an invasive species, as has been reported to have occurred before in Italy.

Key words: Polychaeta, Sabellidae, Sabellinae, Branchiomma, Pseudobranchiomma.

*Correspondence: E-mail: nogueira@ib.usp.br