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A contribution to the taxonomy of Spio (Spionidae, Polychaeta, Annelida) occurring in the North and Baltic Seas, with a key to species recorded in this area

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Abstract

In order to resolve taxonomic problems known from literature and diagnostic practices, Spio species currently recognised in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea have been re-examined. Spio species recorded in the area of interest are S. decoratus, Spio cf. filicornis, S. goniocephala, S. martinensis, and S. armata. Spio decoratus is restricted to the North Sea, whereas S. armata occurs only in the Baltic Sea. Revised descriptions with illustrations and notes on the distributions, as well as remarks on size-dependent differences of characters, are presented for all species. Specimens of Spio from the North and Baltic Seas, which are assigned to S. filicornis based on current taxonomic literature, exhibit significant morphological differences, and are here regarded as two different species. A definite assignment of specimens from the two morphological distinct groups to one of the known Spio species was impossible based on the material available. The significance of diagnostic characters used for the identification of Spio spp. is discussed. An identification key to Spio species found in the investigation area is provided.

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Acknowledgements

We thank James A. Blake, Nancy J. Maciolek and three anonymous referees, who reviewed a previous draft of this manuscript. Their comments greatly improved the quality of the paper. We would like to thank Volker Schroeren (LANU), Karin Fürhaupter (MariLim), Michael Zettler (IOW), Regine Bönsch (IfAOE), Katrine Worsaae and Danny Eibye-Jacobsen (ZMUC) and Dieter Fiege (SMF) for making their collections available to us. Type material was supplied by Lars R. Lundqvist from Zoologiska Museet, Lunds Universitet, Sweden (L). Tatyana Nikitenkova (IfAOE) translated Russian publications. We are grateful to Prof. Ludwig Jonas, Gerhard Fulda and Wolfgang Labs from the Electron Microscopic Centre of the Medical Faculty of the University of Rostock for their support. The study was funded in part by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Germany under FKZ 370725201.

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  1. Institut für Biowissenschaften, Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Universität Rostock, Universitätsplatz 2, 18055, Rostock, Germany

    Andreas Bick & Katrin Otte

  2. Senckenberg Forschungsinstitute und Naturmuseen, Deutsches Zentrum für Marine Biodiversitätsforschung, Biozentrum Grindel, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    Karin Meißner

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  1. Andreas Bick
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  2. Katrin Otte
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Correspondence to Andreas Bick.

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Bick, A., Otte, K. & Meißner, K. A contribution to the taxonomy of Spio (Spionidae, Polychaeta, Annelida) occurring in the North and Baltic Seas, with a key to species recorded in this area. Mar Biodiv 40, 161–180 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-010-0040-5

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