The genera "Myriochele" and "Myrioglobula" (Polychaeta, Oweniidae) in Icelandic waters with the revision of type material of "Myriochele heeri" Malmgren, 1867, and the description of a new species

Abstract

Based on the study of specimens previously identified as Myriochele heeri Malmgren, 1867 (Polychaeta, Oweniidae) in Icelandic waters collected during the BIOICE project, a redescription of this taxon is presented, a Pacific species—Myriochele olgae Blake, 2000 —is reported, and one new species is described: Myrioglobula malmgreni sp. nov. Myriochele heeri is characterized by three short anterior uniramous chaetigers of similar length. The revision of the type series of M. heeri showed that the length of the anterior chaetigers and the chaetal composition is variable in the different specimens, thus demonstrating that more than one species is involved. Complementary anatomical (prostomial, foregut, and peristomial ciliary fields, ventral pharyngeal organ) and biological (food composition, tube ornamentation, body regeneration) observations from selected specimens are provided. Additions to the original description of Myrioglobula islandica Parapar, 2003a and an updated key to the species of Oweniidae recorded in Arctic and East Atlantic Boreal waters are also presented. Aspects on geographical distribution and phylogeny of the family are also discussed.