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A new genus and species of Sternaspidae (Annelida: Polychaeta)from the deep eastern Atlantic

Dieter FIEGE & Ruth BARNICH

en European Journal of Taxonomy 2020 (699) - Pages 1-13

Published on 10 August 2020

Based on specimens recently collected in sediments from 2700 m depth off Mauritania (Northwest Africa; type locality) and from 2700–4400 m depth off Angola (Southwest Africa), a new genus and species, Mauretanaspis longichaeta gen. et spec. nov., is described. The new genus and species are characterized by a unique combination of characters: ventro-caudal shield covered by firmly adhering sediment, lateral margins strongly bent and merging into integument; introvert hooks tapering; eight pre-shield segments; absence of peg chaetae; exceptionally long posteriormost lateral chaetae equaling body length; posterior shield chaetae equaling shield length. A comparative table of characters for all currently recognised sternaspid genera and a key to all species with ventro-caudal shield covered by firmly adhering sediment are provided.

 


Keywords:

Mauretanaspis longichaeta gen. et spec. nov.; taxonomy; deep sea; Atlantic

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