WoRMS taxon details
Abarenicola Wells, 1959
129205 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:129205)
accepted
Genus
- Species Abarenicola affinis (Ashworth, 1903)
- Species Abarenicola assimilis (Ehlers, 1897)
- Species Abarenicola brevior Wells, 1963
- Species Abarenicola claparedi (Levinsen, 1884)
- Species Abarenicola devia Wells, 1963
- Species Abarenicola gilchristi Wells, 1963
- Species Abarenicola haswelli Wells, 1963
- Species Abarenicola insularum Wells, 1963
- Species Abarenicola pacifica Healy & Wells, 1959
- Species Abarenicola pusilla (Quatrefages, 1866)
- Species Abarenicola claparedei [auct. misspelling] accepted as Abarenicola claparedi (Levinsen, 1884) (misspelling in Bellan (2001))
- Species Abarenicola claparedii [auctt.] accepted as Abarenicola claparedi (Levinsen, 1884) (incorrect subsequent spelling)
- Species Abarenicola vagabunda Healy & Wells, 1959 accepted as Abarenicola claparedi vagabunda Healy & Wells, 1959 (superseded original combination)
marine, brackish, fresh, terrestrial
recent only
Wells, G. P. (1959). The genera of Arenicolidae (Polychaeta). <em>Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.</em> 133(2): 301-314., available online at https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1959.tb05564.x [details]
Taxonomy Wells (1963: 129) believed that statocysts were useful as a taxonomic character in Abarenicola. He wrote that: "I believe...
Taxonomy Wells (1963: 129) believed that statocysts were useful as a taxonomic character in Abarenicola. He wrote that: "I believe that a taxonomically useful distinction can be drawn between two types of [Abarenicola] statocyst, as follows. (i) In certain forms, here separated as the two new species Abarenicola affinis and A. gilchristi, the statocyst contains irregularly-shaped liths which are obviously of foreign origin. Some of these may have a secreted coating but some, at least, are quite naked. In other forms, here included in Abarenicola assimilis, the statocyst, contains more-or-less rounded liths, each composed mainly or entirely of secreted substance. Only rarely can foreign bodies be identified inside these liths, and such foreign bodies are comparatively small." [details]
Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2026). World Polychaeta Database. Abarenicola Wells, 1959. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129205 on 2026-10-09
Date
action
by
The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 License
Nomenclature
original description
Wells, G. P. (1959). The genera of Arenicolidae (Polychaeta). <em>Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.</em> 133(2): 301-314., available online at https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1959.tb05564.x [details]
Taxonomy
taxonomy source
Wells, G. P. 1963. The lugworms of the southern cold temperate zone (Arenicolidae, Polychaeta). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 140(1): 121-159., available online at https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1963.tb01858.x
note: includes Wells' suggestion that statocysts could be used to distinguish two groups of Abarenicola, with (only in S Hemisphere forms) and without statocysts [details] Available for editors
[request]
note: includes Wells' suggestion that statocysts could be used to distinguish two groups of Abarenicola, with (only in S Hemisphere forms) and without statocysts [details] Available for editors
[request]Other
additional source
Bellan, G. (2001). Polychaeta, <i>in</i>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. <em>Collection Patrimoines Naturels.</em> 50: 214-231. (look up in IMIS)
note: checklist listing [details]
note: checklist listing [details]
Present Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
From editor or global species database
Diagnosis (Diagnosis of Wells, 1959 [with minor modification re neuropodial chaetal rows]) Arenicolidae with an achaetous tail. Prostomium non-retractile, in the form of a triangle with lateral extensions of its (anterior) base; with a shallow groove marking the attachment of the brain. Statocysts either present, with a tube to the exterior, or absent. Setigers (except the first two or three) subdivided into five annuli. Gills branched, the first (which may be reduced or absent) on setiger vii or viii. No ventral edges of the neuropodial chaetal rows approach close to the mid-ventral line. Oesophageal caeca more than one pair. Gular membrane very thin; septa1 pouches absent. Nephridia five or six pairs, the first opening on setiger iv or v. Dioecious ; gonads on the nephridia. [details]Taxonomy Wells (1963: 129) believed that statocysts were useful as a taxonomic character in Abarenicola. He wrote that: "I believe that a taxonomically useful distinction can be drawn between two types of [Abarenicola] statocyst, as follows. (i) In certain forms, here separated as the two new species Abarenicola affinis and A. gilchristi, the statocyst contains irregularly-shaped liths which are obviously of foreign origin. Some of these may have a secreted coating but some, at least, are quite naked. In other forms, here included in Abarenicola assimilis, the statocyst, contains more-or-less rounded liths, each composed mainly or entirely of secreted substance. Only rarely can foreign bodies be identified inside these liths, and such foreign bodies are comparatively small." [details]
