A revision of the Australian Trichobranchidae (Polychaeta)

Abstract

The family Trichobranchidae is represented inAustralian waters by ten species(Artacamella dibranchiata Knox & Cameron, 1971,A. torulosa, sp. nov.,A. tribranchiata, sp. nov.,Terebellides kowinka, sp. nov.,T. mundora, sp. nov., T. narribri,sp. nov., T. woolawa, sp.nov.,Octobranchus myunus, sp.nov.,Trichobranchus bunnabus, sp. nov.andT. gorreekis, sp. nov.) in four genera, of which ninespecies are new. Previously the ‘cosmopolitan species’Terebellides stroemii Sars, 1835 had been widelyreported from Australia; examination of material from near the type locality,Norway, revealed that the Australian material differed and represented fournew species. Terebellides stroemii does not occur inAustralian waters. Terebellides stroemii is redescribed. Additional charactersare described for the genus which may also facilitate the separation of thesespecies. A key to the genera and species present in Australia is given, aswell as tables summarising the characters of all described species in thesegenera.