Buzhinskaja, Galina Nikolaevna; Smirnov, Roman Vladimirovich. (2000). Abyssocapitella commensalis gen. et sp. n. associated with the deep-sea pogonophore Spirobrachia leospira Gureeva, 1975 (Polychaeta: Capitellidae). Ophelia. 52(3): 171-176.

49438

10.1080/00785236.1999.10409425 [view]

Buzhinskaja, Galina Nikolaevna; Smirnov, Roman Vladimirovich

2000

52(3): 171-176

Publication

https://doi.org/10.1080/00785236.1999.10409425

AnnelidaBase

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Abyssocapitella commensalis gen. et sp. n. is described from tubes of the pogonophore Spirobrachia leospira Gureeva from the South-Sandwich Trench (depths 6052–8116 m). The new genus is characterized by the possession of an achaetous peristomium and 4 thoracic setigers with capillary setae in the notopodia and hooded hooks in the neuropodia. Early juveniles have 3 segments with capillaries; setiger 4 bears hooded hooks which are gradually lost and replaced by capillaries. Pogonophoran setae and microorganisms, among other small particles, were found in the food lumps of the capitellids. A. commensalis is the only polychaete associated with pogonophores and apparently the only capitellid species living in the tubes of other animals. The species is here considered as a commensal of Spirobrachia leospira, although it is possible that their interrelationship is of a parasitoid-host nature.

South Atlantic

Abyssal, Deep-Sea
Associations, Symbiosis, Commensalism (parasitism see *PAR)
Systematics, Taxonomy

Annelida
Polychaeta

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