PRIONOSPIO (MINUSPIO) PULCHRA IMAJIMA, 1990 (POLYCHAETA, SPIONIDAE) IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
Moreira da Rocha, J.; Quintas, P. & Troncoso, J. S.
Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal. Facultade de Ciencias Universidade de Vigo, E - 36200, Vigo, Spain
During the course of a study on the subtidal macrobenthic communities of the inlet of Baiona (Galicia, N.W. Spain) we found a great number of specimens of the polychaete Prionospio (Minuspio) pulchra Imajima, 1990. This spionid was previously described from Japan waters (IMAJIMA, 1990). The only previous record in the Atlantic Ocean was reported from the Ría of Ferrol (Galicia, N.W. Spain) (PARAPAR, 1991) with doubts. We confirm with our record the presence of P. pulchra in Atlantic waters. Other species from the genus reported from Galician coasts are Prionospio cirrifera Wirén, 1883, Prionospio ehlersi Fauvel, 1928, Prionospio multibranchiata Berkeley, 1927 and Prionospio steenstrupi Malmgren, 1867 (the records from the last one probably are refered to Prionospio fallax Söderström, 1920). P. pulchra is characterized by long, apinnate cylindrical branchiae, numbering 9-10 pairs, the longest extending over 6-8 segments. The prostomium is subtriangular, broadly rounded anteriorly, with five small marginal peaks. Most of the specimens were found in muddy sediments with high organic matter content, around the harbor of Baiona, and only a few specimens in fine sand. Morphological data are provided, as well as a discussion between our material and the described ones from Japan and Ferrol.