Saccocirridae (Annelida : Archiannelida) from the central coast of New South Wales

Abstract

Saccocirrids (archiannelids) were collected from coarse-grained sediments in turbulent water from the central New South Wales coast. Saccocirrus jouinae, sp. nov., and S. tridentiger, sp, nov., are described, and S. krusadensis Alikunhi, 1948 newly recorded in Australia. In these species gonads occur only on the left side of the body and cilia are found on the ventral surface.

Of the 17 species attributed to the Saccocirridae, seven species are known to have unilateral gonads and ventral ciliation. They occur only in the Indo-Pacific region. Species with gonads on both sides of the body have not been described with cilia on the ventral surface. Their distribution is world-wide.