Diversity of Syllidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) on hard bottom at Pernambuco and Paraíba states

Abstract

Syllidae Grube, 1850, is one of the largest families of polychaetes, currently comprising around 700 species, with more than 70 genera. The Syllidae are divided into five subfamilies, Autolytinae, Eusyllinae, Syllinae, Exogoninae and Anoplosyllinae defined by the morphology of the palps, antennae, peristomial and dorsal cirri, by the shape of the pharynx and proventricle. Despite being one of the most abundant and diverse families of Polychaeta, the state of knowledge of the syllid fauna occurring off the Brazilian coast is still poor. Up to the present, only 109 species have been registered for the area (14 from northeast coast), which is a relatively low number compared to regions where the syllid fauna has been more extensively investigated, as the Iberian Peninsula, for example. The objective of this study is to survey Syllidae taxonomic species from samples taken over the states of Paraiba and Pernambuco. The goal of the internship abroad is to check the identifications already made and to compare the Brazilian specimens with animals from the private collection of the Dr. San Martín and European museums. Material examined consists of 3,405 specimens, belonging to 58 species, of which 37 identifications need to be confirmed. (AU)