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Revision of abranchiate species of Marphysa de Quatrefages, 1865 and their transference to Nicidion Kinberg, 1865 (Eunicidae: Annelida) with redescription of the type species N. cincta Kinberg, 1865

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Abstract

Nicidion Kinberg, 1865, and Paramarphysa Ehlers, 1887, were previously recognized as abranchiate groups of Eunice Cuvier, 1817, and Marphysa de Quatrefages, 1865, respectively. However, recent studies have demonstrated Nicidion is monophyletic, and the genus was redefined. Likewise, the character presence/absence of peristomial cirri, which traditionally was used to differentiate between Nicidion and Paramarphysa, is now considered non-diagnostic. Subsequently, the type species of Paramarphysa was recently transferred to Nicidion, implying that they are synonyms. Despite the above, some abranchiate species are still classified in Marphysa, raising the question of their positions within the genus. In the present study, we re-examined seven abranchiate species, studying their type material, and reviewing the literature, intending to disclose their taxonomic status. We concluded that only four of them belong to Nicidion: N. parvipes (Benham, 1927) n. comb., N. posteriobranchia (Day, 1962) n. comb., N. proppi (Averincev, 1972) n. comb., and N. saxicolas (Langerhans, 1881) n. comb. Two species, Marphysa simplex Langerhans, 1884, and Marphysa orientalis (Willey, 1905), were considered indeterminable. And one, ?Palola teres (Treadwell, 1922), is now considered incertae sedis because of insufficient information available. Additionally, we provided redescriptions of N. cincta Kinberg, 1865, type species of Nicidion, and N. hentscheli (Augener, 1931). Further character analysis on all Nicidion species suggested the genus consists of two groups (G1, G2) based on the distribution and presence and form of branchiae, the architecture of maxilla II, and the shape of the body’s posterior region. Also, the study of these and other characters such as the distribution of the swollen base of the ventral cirri and the coloration of the aciculae throughout the body, allow us to redefine the diagnosis of Nicidion.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank Lily Berniker and Mark Siddall (AMNH), Emma Sherlock (BMNH), Helmut Sattmann (NHM), Lena Gustavsson (SMNH), Sergei Gagaev and Vladislav Potin (ZIN RAS), and Martin Schwentner, Kathrin Philipps-Bussau, and Petra Wagner (ZMH) for making available some of the materials that made this study possible; to Dr. Luis F. Carrera-Parra and Dr. Sergio I. Salazar-Vallejo for their advice and conversations about the Eunicidae family’s morphology, the time they took to review the thesis where this information comes from, and for the loan of the facilities in ECOSUR and devices to take photographs; to the University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) for providing some facilities and access to publishing this manuscript; and to Biol. Humberto Bahena-Basave (ECOSUR, Mexico) for advice on digital photography and editing. We also thank Dieter Fiege and Lena Menzel (editors), Chris Glasby, and a second reviewer for the comments that contributed to the improvement of this final version.

Funding

During this research, the first author ICMA was supported by a scholarship from CONACyT (514117/298079) and DAAD Short-Term Grants (91673476).

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  1. Estructura y Función del Bentos, Depto. Sistemática y Ecología Acuática, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México

    Isabel C. Molina-Acevedo

  2. South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

    Isabel C. Molina-Acevedo & Izwandy Idris

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  1. Isabel C. Molina-Acevedo
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Correspondence to Isabel C. Molina-Acevedo.

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The idea for the article, material preparation, data collection, literature search, and analysis was performed by ICMA. The first draft of the manuscript and comments on previous versions were written by all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Molina-Acevedo, I.C., Idris, I. Revision of abranchiate species of Marphysa de Quatrefages, 1865 and their transference to Nicidion Kinberg, 1865 (Eunicidae: Annelida) with redescription of the type species N. cincta Kinberg, 1865. Mar. Biodivers. 51, 30 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-020-01157-6

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