SPIONIDAE (ANNELIDA, POLYCHAETA) FROM THE PARQUE NACIONAL MORROCOY, EDO. FALCÓN, VENEZUELA.
Bone, D. 1 and Vieitez, J.M. 2
1 Departamento de Biología de Organismos - INTECMAR, Universidad Simón Bolívar, A.P. 89.000, Caracas, Venezuela.
2 Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, España.
In this study we describe species of the family Spionidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) inhabiting soft-bottoms associated with seagrass meadow environments dominated by Thalassia testudinum from the Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela. Five species are described and we discuss identificatory problems where taxonomic difficulties are present. Although no new species were found, the following species are represented by their first records from the Venezuelan coasts and the southern Caribbean Sea: Prionospio (Minuspio) cirrifera, Prionospio (Prionospio) fallax, Prionospio (Prionospio) steenstrupi, Polydora socialis and Spio pettiboneae.