“Sedentary” polychaetes of the Livingston Island shelf (South Shetlands, Antarctica), with the description of a new species

Abstract

The taxonomic results of examining the “sedentary” families of polychaetes collected during the Spanish cruise “Bentart 94” off Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, are presented. Most of the identified species are endemic to Antarctic and sub-Antarctic areas, but some cosmopolitan species are also present. A total of 4,022 specimens have been examined, belonging to 44 species, 42 genera and 15 families. Maldanidae and Terebellidae were the most important families in number of species, and Asychis amphiglypta, Maldane sarsi antarctica and Amphitrite kerguelensis in number of individuals. Melinna arnaudi, a new species belonging to the family Ampharetidae, is described, and Phisia rubrolineata and Aricidea (Allia) oculata are recorded for the first time since their original description.