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Mediterranean Marine Science
Vol 13, No 2 (2012)
Flabelliderma cinari (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae), a
new species from the Eastern Mediterranean
S.U. KARHAN, N. SIMBOURA, S.I. SALAZAR-
VALLEJO
doi: 10.12681/mms.296
To cite this article:
KARHAN, S., SIMBOURA, N., & SALAZAR-VALLEJO, S. (2012). Flabelliderma cinari (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae), a
new species from the Eastern Mediterranean. Mediterranean Marine Science, 13(2), 175–178.
https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.296
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Medit. Mar. Sci., 13/2, 2012, 175-178 175
Flabelliderma cinari (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae), a new species from
the Eastern Mediterranean
S.Ü. KARHAN1, N. SIMBOURA2 and S.I. SALAZAR-VALLEJO3
1 Division of Hydrobiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University, TR-34134 Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey
2 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, 19013, Anavissos, Attica, Greece
3 Departamento de Ecología Acuática, ECOSUR, CONACYT, Apdo. Postal 424, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, 77000, México
Corresponding author: unsalkarhan@yahoo.com
Received: 13 September 2011; Accepted: 10 April 2012; Published on line: 7 September 2012
Abstract
A new species of abelligerid polychaete, Flabelliderma cinari, is described from the Turkish coast of the Eastern Mediter-
ranean Sea. This represents the rst occurrence of the genus Flabelliderma in the Mediterranean. Flabelliderma cinari sp. nov. is
closely allied to F. claparedei in having dorsal tubercles of two different sizes; however, these species differ in the relative shape
and number of dorsal tubercles, the number of capillaries per fascicle in the notopodia and the shape of the curved distal articles
in the neuropodial hooks.
Keywords: Polychaeta, Flabelligeridae, Flabelliderma cinari, new species, Eastern Mediterranean.
Research Article
Mediterranean Marine Science
Indexed in WoS (Web of Science, ISI Thomson) and SCOPUS
The journal is available on line at http://www.medit-mar-sc.net
Introduction
Polychaetes of the family Flabelligeridae de Saint-
Joseph, 1894 live within sediments, among marine plants
on rocks or other hard substrates, and they occasionally
bore into calcareous rocks or consolidated sediments
(Salazar-Vallejo, 2007; Salazar-Vallejo et al., 2008).
They can often be distinguished from other polychaetes
by their long cephalic chaetae, retractable head region,
and papillate body surfaces. Two genera within this fam-
ily, Flabelliderma Hartman, 1969, and Flabelligera Sars,
1829, resemble each other closely, but differ in that the
body papillae of Flabelliderma form large tubercles, of-
ten coated with sediment particles, rather than elongate
laments within a gelatinous sheath, as in Flabelligera
(Salazar-Vallejo, 2007). This feature makes the detection
of Flabelliderma species difcult, because they can be
overlooked or confused with sediment granules or debris.
This may explain why Flabelliderma species are poorly
known, despite the wide distribution of the genus.
During recent biodiversity surveys, two specimens of
a species of Flabelliderma, closely resembling the north-
eastern Atlantic species F. claparedei (de Saint-Joseph,
1898), were collected from the Eastern Mediterranean
coast of Turkey. This collection represents the rst re-
cord of the genus Flabelliderma for the Mediterranean
Sea. Upon examination, the species proved to be new to
science. A description of this new species, along with a
discussion of its taxonomic afnities, is presented herein.
Material and Methods
Two specimens of the new species were obtained
from Kaş (Antalya, southern Turkey) in August 2009.
The collection of specimens was carried out by SCUBA
diving. The specimens were photographed alive soon
after collection, and were relaxed in 5% MgCl2, prior
to xation and preservation in 75% ethanol. Close-up
photographs of the holotype were taken using a digital
SLR camera (Nikon D700 D-SLR with 60 mm Micro
Nikkor lens), and light micrographs were taken using a
digital camera (Olympus DP25) mounted on a compound
(Olympus CX31) or stereo (Olympus SZ61) microscope.
For scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations
of the notochaetae capillaries, a parapodium from chae-
tiger 5 was dissected from the body, critical-point dried,
mounted on a copper stub, coated with gold, and ex-
amined in a Philips XL20 SEM. The holotype and one
paratype are deposited in the Istanbul University Science
Faculty Hydrobiology Museum (IUSHM), Turkey.
176 Medit. Mar. Sci., 13/2, 2012, 175-178
Fig. 1: Flabelliderma cinari sp. nov., holotype (IUSHM- 20100310-01). (A) Living animal
in dorsal view; B–F, same specimen after xation. (B) ventral view; (C) close-up of the
median region, in ventral view, showing the sediment covered tubercles; (D) anterior end
in dorsal view; (E) tip of a neuropodial hook from a median chaetiger; (F) close-up of the
median region, in ventral view, showing the position of a neuropodial hook. Scales A, B = 1
mm; C = 200 μm; D = 500 μm; E = 50 μm; F = 100 μm.
Fig. 2: Flabelliderma cinari sp. nov. (A) Paratype (IUSHM- 20100310-02), anterior end
showing the cephalic cage chaetae in dorso-lateral view, sediment cover removed; (B) same,
some anterior chaetigers, left parapodia in dorsal view, sediment cover removed; (C) holo-
type (IUSHM-20100310-01), notochaetal fascicle in parapodium 5; (D) same, notochaetal
distal article. Scales A, B, C = 500 μm; D = 20 μm.
Medit. Mar. Sci., 13/2, 2012, 175-178 177
Results
Systematics
Class POLYCHAETA Grube, 1850
Order FLABELLIGERIDA Pettibone, 1982
Family FLABELLIGERIDAE de Saint-Joseph, 1894
Genus Flabelliderma Hartman, 1969
Type species: Stylarioides papillosa Essenberg, 1922.
Diagnosis
Flabelligerid with cephalic cage chaetae short, in a
single continuous series. Dorsal surface with tubercles,
often incorporating ne sediment particles. Parapodia
laterally placed along the body. Notopodial lobes thin or
ovoid, projected, free from the body surface, sometimes
including large globular papillae. Neurochaetal hooks
with multiarticulated handle and crests entire, bent. Free
living in rocky or mixed bottoms, rarely symbiotic with
sponges.
Flabelliderma cinari sp. nov.
(Figs. 1, 2)
Type material
Holotype (IUSHM-20100310-01) and one paratype
(IUSHM-20100310-02) collected in Kaş (36º09’34”N,
29º44’47”E), southern coast of Turkey, Eastern Mediter-
ranean Sea, 12 m depth, 7 August 2009, sand, under a
small boulder (ca. 25 cm in diameter), in a Cymodocea
nodosa meadow, SCUBA diving, coll. S.Ü. Karhan.
Description
Both holotype (IUSHM-20100310-01) and paratype
(IUSHM-20100310-02) complete, soft, light brown, 10
mm long, approximately 3 mm maximal width, with 27
chaetigers. Body slightly convex dorsally, at ventrally,
densely covered with irregular, lobate tubercles cov-
ered by ne sediment particles. Tubercles number 22-
24 per segment dorsally and laterally (Fig. 1A). Dorsal
tubercles of two different sizes: several large, long, and
many smaller, more globular; ventral tubercles all small,
globose (Fig. 1B, C). Notopodial papillae fused to each
other, coated with sediment particles forming ovoid no-
topodial lobes; notochaetae completely embedded. No-
topodial lobes shorter than adjacent dorsal tubercles;
individual papillae distally rounded. Dorsal tubercles
with ne sediment, larger along the lateral margins, soft,
clavate with narrow bases. Neuropodia conical, projected
lobes, masked by globular tubercles, only neuropodial
hooks protruding from the ventral surface. Anterior end
with cephalic cage completely covered with tubercles,
cephalic chaetae not exposed (Fig. 1D).
Prostomium a high cone, with four dark-reddish eyes
in rectangular arrangement, very close to each other, an-
terior ones larger. Caruncle well-developed, lateral keels
elevated, thin, median one wider, swollen. Palps long,
bases rounded, small. Two branchial groups with about
40 laments each. Nephridial lobes placed at the level of
prostomium.
Cephalic cage chaetae (Fig. 2A) about one-sixth
body length, about half as long as body width (exclud-
ing chaetae). Chaetigers 1-3 of about the same length.
Chaetal transition from cephalic cage to body chaetae
abrupt; neuropodial hooks present from chaetiger 2, one
per ramus.
Parapodia well-developed. Notochaetae multiar-
ticulate capillaries with short median and basal articles,
longer ones distally. Each notopodium with 7-8 at most
multiarticulate capillaries (Fig. 2B, C), articles long (Fig.
2D), extended about three tenths of notochaetal length
(35μm to 200μm total length), embedded in the parapo-
dial lobe. Neurochaetae multiarticulate hooks from chae-
tiger 2, mostly a single hook per ramus, ventral in position
(Fig. 1F); hooks not completely covered by the neuropo-
dial chaetal lobe. Handle with three longer articles medi-
ally, becoming progressively longer, distal articles shorter.
Curved distal articles, especially those of posterior parapo-
dia, darker, tapering, slightly curved at tip, fairly uniform
in shape throughout the body (Fig. 1E). Posterior chae-
tigers shorter. Posterior end slightly tapering; pygidium
with terminal anus, short muscular ring, without anal cirri.
Etymology
The new species is named after Dr. Melih Ertan Çi-
nar, in recognition of his extensive contributions to poly-
chaete taxonomy and to the knowledge of the polychaete
fauna from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The epithet is
a noun in the genitive case.
Remarks
Flabelliderma cinari sp. nov. is closely allied to F.
claparedei from the Bay of Biscay, in having dorsal tu-
bercles of two different sizes. However, these two spe-
cies differ in several features. First, in F. cinari the dorsal
tubercles have rough surfaces owing to the different sizes
of adhering sediment particles, whereas in F. clapare-
dei dorsal tubercles have smooth surfaces owing to the
homogeneous sizes of the sediment particles. Second,
there is a slight difference in the relative number of sedi-
ment tubercles, since there are 22-24 per segment in F.
cinari and about 20 in F. claparedei. Third, there are 7-8
multiarticulate capillaries per notopodium in F. cinari;
whereas there are 12-14 in F. claparedei. And lastly, the
distal articles of the neuropodial hooks differ. Those of
F. cinari are sharper and less distally curved than those
of F. claparedei, which are blunt and with more strongly
curved tips.
On the other hand, in having irregular dorsal tuber-
cles, F. cinari resembles F. ockeri Salazar-Vallejo, 2007.
However, these two species differ in two main features.
178 Medit. Mar. Sci., 13/2, 2012, 175-178
First, in F. ockeri the dorsal tubercles vary greatly in size,
such that two distinct sizes cannot be determined, while
in F. cinari the dorsal tubercles are of two clearly distinct
sizes. Further, the notopodial lobes in F. ockeri are clearly
expanded distally, often showing large, globular papillae,
while in F. cinari, the notopodial lobes are small, lobate,
not expanded distally and lack globular papillae.
Flabelliderma cinari can be distinguished from the
other species in the genus using the key below.
Type locality
Kaş (36º09’34”N, 29º44’47”E), southern Turkey, East-
ern Mediterranean Sea, 12 m depth, under boulders in a
Cymodocea nodosa meadow.
Distribution
Only known from the type locality in the Eastern
Mediterranean coast of Turkey.
Key to species of Flabelliderma Hartman, 1969
1. Dorsum covered with large tubercles or papillae, often
with sediment particles . . . 2
– Dorsum covered with small globular papillae . . . 7
2. Dorsal tubercles soft, clavate with a narrow base . . . 3
– Dorsal tubercles tough, digitate or rectangular, with a
broad base . . . F. ockeri Salazar-Vallejo, 2007.
3. Notopodial lobes smooth, individual papillae distally
rounded … 4
– Notopodial lobes hirsute, individual papillae distally
pointed with distinct mucrones. . . F. gourdoni (Gra-
vier, 1906)
4. Dorsal tubercles of two different sizes . . . 5
– Dorsal tubercles of a single type, clavate . . . 6
5. Dorsal tubercles smooth; curved distal articles of neu-
ropodial hooks blunt, distally incurved; 12-14 capil-
laries per fascicle in notopodia . . . F. claparedei (de
Saint-Joseph, 1898)
– Dorsal tubercles rough; curved distal articles of neu-
ropodial hooks sharp, not markedly incurved distally;
7-8 capillaries per fascicle in notopodia . . . F. cinari
sp. nov.
6. Notopodial lobes with little sediment (living in spong-
es); 20-22 papillae per transverse row per segment,
all shorter than notopodial lobes . . . F. lighti Salazar-
Vallejo, 2007
– Notopodial lobes with abundant ne sediment (living
in sandy bottoms or kelp holdfasts); 12-14 papillae
per transverse row per segment, most about as long
as notopodial lobes, some longer . . . F. papillosa (Es-
senberg, 1922)
7. Dorsal papillae without sediment particles; notopodial
lobes short and thick . . . F. pruvoti (Fauvel, 1930)
– Dorsal papillae with sediment particles; notopodial
lobes long and slender . . . F. berkeleyorum Salazar-
Vallejo, 2007
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Volkan Demir, Evrim Kal-
kan, Inés López, and Baki Yokes for their kind help in the
eld. We are also very thankful to Dr. Th. Kanellopoulos
for the SEM micrographs and to Elizabeth Hemond for
polishing the English of the manuscript. This work was
partially funded in the framework of MedPAN South -
Pilot Project in Turkey by the World Wide Fund for Na-
ture (WWF) Turkey.
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