taxonID	type	description	language	source
03B70F11FFD1FFC9FF38EE257488FD0A.taxon	materials_examined	Type species. Armandia cirrhosa Filippi, 1861: 219, by monotypy.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	description	Figures 1 – 6, 12; Table 1	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Thirty-two specimens from five samples collected in two localities of south Kuwait (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Parapodial prechaetal lobe rounded throughout, ventral lobe low; no dorsal cirrus *. Prechaetal lobe symmetrical, with a notch giving distal border a bilobed appearance. Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 12 chaetigers (CH 7 – CH 18) *. Branchiae from CH 2 to last chaetiger. Anal tube short; posterior and ventral margins free, tube opening provided with 7 – 8 pairs of short marginal papillae, up to five pairs of basal papillae and unpaired anal cirrus. (*) But see Description and Remarks	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	description	Description. Complete specimens ranging from 5.0 – 14.0 mm in length and 0.5 – 1.0 mm in width for 32 (34) chaetigers. Body slender, slightly tapering towards anterior end (Figs 2 A, 4 A – E) and truncated posterior end (Figs 3 A, C – D, 6). Prostomium conical, palpode long and clavate (Figs 2 A, 4 A – E). A pair of small red lateral eyes deeply embedded in prostomium (Fig. 2 A). One pair of ring-shaped nuchal organs (Figs 2 A, 4 A, C – F); pharynx eversible, oral tentacles not seen. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe and ventral lobe (Figs 2 B – I, 5 B – F); short dorsal cirrus from CH 4 to last chaetiger (Figs 2 E – I, 5 C – F). Prechaetal lobe symmetrical, with a small notch giving distal border a bilobed appearance in anterior chaetigers (Figs 2 B – E, 5 B, D). Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 11 chaetigers: CH 6 – CH 16 (longest specimen with lateral eyespots in CH 6 – CH 20); orange, horizontally oval, those of CH 6 and CH 16 slightly smaller than others. Simple, very long capillary chaetae in two bundles; notochaetae generally longer than neurochaetae (Figs 2 B, 5 A). Ventral groove deep, well defined along all body (Figs 3 A – C, 4 A, 5 A, 6 A – C). Branchiae present from CH 2 (Figs 2 A, C, 4 F) to last body chaetiger (Fig. 6 B), long but not reaching dorsal midline in anterior segments (Fig. 5 A), not decreasing in length in posterior chaetigers but last one the smallest (Figs 3 B, 6 B) and often missing (Figs 3 A, C, 6 A, C). Anal tube maximum dorsal length similar to width at base; as long as last 3 – 4 chaetigers (Figs 3, 6); opened terminally and ventrally with a ventral incision (Figs 3 B, 6 C – D, F) and slightly laterally compressed (Figs 3 B, 6 C). Posterior border provided with 3 – 4 pairs of short marginal papillae about as long as anal tube (Fig. 6 D), slightly shorter (Figs 3 A, 6 E) or longer (Fig. 6 A, C), sometimes with bifid distal end (pmpr 3 and pmpl 3 in Fig. 3 C). Internal unpaired smooth anal cirrus, about twice as long as anal tube length (Figs 3 B, D, 6 A) and two (Figs 3 B, 6 C – F) or three pairs (Figs 3, 6 A – B) of basal papillae. Brown pigment spots in lower lateral half in one specimen (Fig. 3 A). Variation. Specimens examined showed variation in the numbers of marginal and basal paired anal papillae; the length of marginal papillae and the presence of branchiae in the last chaetiger also varied across specimens likely due to the state of preservation. On the contrary, number of chaetigers, position of lateral parapodial eyespots and parapodial shape were similar among specimens.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	distribution	Distribution / Habitat. Armandia bipapillata was originally described by Hartmann-Schröder (1974) from Mozambique (Southwest Indian Ocean) and later reported in littoral marine caves of Hong Kong (Morton & Bamber 2008; Muir & Bamber 2008) and in intertidal sandy-mud in Natuna Islands (South China Sea; Al-Hakim & Glasby 2004); these reports were later included in checklists by Glasby et al. (2016) and Pamungkas & Glasby (2019) (Fig. 12). Specimens here studied have been collected in two localities of the southern coast of Kuwait (Fig. 1) associated with intertidal sand-rock substratum (Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD1FFCDFF38EE9975FCFEC5.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The original description of A. bibapillata reports three “ brain eyes ” (two lateral and one dorsal; cfr. Hartmann-Schröder 1974: pl. 19 - fig. 177) and states that branchiae are long, well surpassing dorsal midline in anterior body half (“ Sie sind relativ lang und berühren sich im Vorderkorpen in der dorsalen Mediane ”) and present to the end of body; lateral eyespots are present between CH 7 and CH 18 (small specimens: CH 17). However, in Kuwait specimens, the dorsal eye was not observed, branchiae seem shorter and all specimens but the longest bear lateral eyespots from CH 6 to CH 16; parapodial lobes are very short and rounded (similar to those described by Hartmann-Schröder 1974), but SEM micrographs and further light microscope examination showed the presence of one small dorsal cirrus per parapodium in most chaetigers, that might have been overlooked in previous work. Regarding the anal tube, the original description states that it is not much longer than wide (Hartmann-Schröder 1974: pl. 19 - fig. 178); Kuwait specimens have either an almost square-shaped anal tube or one that is slightly longer than wide. Paired anal papillae are more numerous in the type series: 7 – 8 pairs of marginal and five pairs of basal papillae against 3 – 4 and 2 – 3, respectively, in Kuwait specimens. Al-Hakim & Glasby (2004) reported one specimen from Natuna Islands (South China Sea) with 32 chaetigers and branchiae from CH 2 to the last chaetiger; the anal tube is described as “ not elongated ” and provided with “ a pair of brown ventral pigment patches ”. Similar pigmentation is present in one Kuwait specimen laterally in the distal half of the anal tube (Fig. 3 A). The specimens described by Muir & Bamber (2008) do not show eyes and bear 30 – 31 chaetigers; ranges of chaetigers with branchiae (CH 2 to last chaetiger) and lateral eyespots (CH 7 – CH 18) and anal papillae (marginal: 3 pairs, basal: 4 pairs) are similar to those found in Kuwait specimens. Armandia bipapillata is well characterised against the other species of the genus by the short anal tube and the presence of two types of anal papillae. The differences observed among specimens from different areas might be due to: 1) the original description was based on a low number of specimens (six), and 2) the size of specimens, state of preservation and difficulties in observation of some characters, such as the small parapodial dorsal cirrus. In fact, the presence of the unpaired cirrus in Kuwait specimens was initially overlooked during previous light microscope examinations and then observed in SEM micrographs.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	description	Figures 1, 7, 12; Table 1	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. One specimen collected at Umm Al-Maradim Island (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe, ventral lobe and dorsal cirrus; prechaetal lobe symmetrical, with a notch giving distal border a bilobed appearance. Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 11 chaetigers (CH 7 – CH 18) *. Branchiae present from CH 2 to CH 26. Anal tube barrel-shaped, straight at base, increasing width at dorsal midline and tapering again towards distal end; posterior border provided with 10 pairs of short marginal papillae / anal cirri of different length, about 1 / 5 as long as anal tube length; internal unpaired anal cirrus and pair of basal cirri present *. (*) But see Description and Remarks	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	description	Description. Specimen complete, 12.0 mm long and 1.0 mm wide, with 29 chaetigers. Body slender, slightly tapering towards anterior and posterior ends. Prostomium conical, palpode short and clavate (Fig. 7 A). Eyes not seen. One pair of ring-shaped nuchal organs (Fig. 7 A). Pharynx not everted; oral tentacles not seen. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe and ventral lobe (Fig. 7 B – G); dorsal cirrus from CH 2 (Fig. 7 C) to CH 25 at least (Fig. 7 G). Prechaetal lobe symmetrical, with a notch giving distal border a bilobed appearance (Fig. 7 B – D). Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 14 chaetigers (CH 7 – CH 20); orange, horizontally oval, those of CH 15 – CH 20 smaller than others. Simple, very long capillary chaetae in two bundles; notochaetae generally longer than neurochaetae (Fig. 7 A). Ventral groove deep, well defined along body. Branchiae present from CH 2 to CH 28 (fallen in some chaetigers) (Fig. 7 G), long, surpassing dorsal midline, decreasing in length in posterior most chaetigers, shortest in CH 27 – CH 28 (Fig. 7 H). Anal tube barrel-shaped, straight at base, width increasing at dorsal midline and tapering again towards distal end, as long as last three chaetigers (Fig. 7 H). Anal tube opening directed posteriorly, not laterally compressed. Posterior border provided with nine pairs of short marginal papillae of different length, about 1 / 5 as long as anal tube length (Fig. 7 H – I); unpaired anal cirrus and paired basal cirri not seen.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	distribution	Distribution / Habitat. Armandia dolio is only known from the type location, Lizard Island (NE Australia), in shallow sublittoral (5 – 14 m) muddy sand (Parapar & Moreira 2015; Fig. 12). The specimen here studied has been collected in Umm Al-Maradim Island in low intertidal sand-rock substratum (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDAFFC1FF38ECF573F9FAAC.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The only available specimen mostly fits with the original description. Still, it shows slight differences: 1) body measurements and number of chaetigers, 2) number and range of distribution of branchiae (Kuwait: CH 27 – 28 vs CH 26), 3) number, size and range of distribution of lateral eyespots (Kuwait: CH 7 to CH 20 vs CH 7 to CH 18), 4) presence of parapodial dorsal cirrus (CH 4 to last chaetiger in original description), 5) size and shape of anal tube and paired marginal papillae (“ paired anal cirri ” in Parapar & Moreira 2015). These differences might be due to intraspecific variation, but we prefer not confirming the identity of this specimen because of the great distance from the type locality (Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef; Fig. 12); furthermore, the Kuwait specimen lacks prostomial eyes, a pair of basal papillae (“ basal cirri ” in Parapar & Moreira 2015) and the unpaired anal cirrus.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	description	Figures 1, 8 – 10, 12; Table 1	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Ten specimens in four samples collected in two localities on the south coast of Kuwait (Fig. 1; Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe triangular throughout and ventral lobe low; no dorsal cirrus. Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 10 chaetigers (CH 6 – CH 15). Anal tube short; tube opening provided with unpaired anal cirrus and three pairs of short marginal papillae 0.5 times as long as dorsal anal tube length; basal papillae not present. The original description mentions the shape of the branchiae (“ … s'insère une longue branchie cirriforme terminée en pointe ... ”) but does not include the range of distribution. Eibye-Jacobsen (2002) studying specimens from Andaman Sea (Thailand) reports branchiae located between CH 2 and CH 26 for specimens bearing 29 chaetigers and CH 2 – CH 29 (30) for those with 31 chaetigers; he states that these features suggest that two different species might be involved. However, Eibye-Jacobsen (2002) assigned provisionally all this material to A. cf. melanura because these specimens shared the same shape of the anal tube, the presence of pigment spots and a similar prostomial palpode.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	description	Description. Complete specimens ranging from 5.0 – 13.0 mm in length and 0.8 – 1.0 mm in width for 29 / 30 chaetigers. Body slender, slightly tapering towards anterior end (Fig. 8 A). Prostomium conical, palpode short and clavate (Figs 8 A, 9 – B). Three dark brown prostomial eyes (one dorsal and two lateral; Fig. 8 A). One pair of large nuchal organs (Figs 8 A, 9 A, C). Pharynx partially everted only in smaller specimen; oral tentacles not seen. Parapodia biramous (Figs 8 B – I, 9 D – F, 10 A – C), with prechaetal lobe and ventral lobe (Figs 8 B – I, 10 A, C); dorsal cirrus not present; prechaetal lobes symmetrical and slightly pointed in posteriormost chaetigers (Figs 8 I, 10 C). Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on CH 6 / 7 – CH 16 / 17 (Fig. 8 A), dark orange, horizontally oval, those of CH 6 / 7 and CH 16 / 17 smaller than others. Simple, very long capillary chaetae in two bundles; notochaetae slightly longer than neurochaetae in anterior and posterior chaetigers (Figs 8 A – B, 9 A, 10 A – C) and longer in mid-body (Fig. 9 D – F). Ventral groove deep, well defined along all body length (Fig. 8 J). Branchiae present from CH 2 to CH 27 / 28, not reaching dorsal midline (Figs 8 A, 9 D – F, 10 B). Anal tube dorsal length as long as width at base and as long as last three chaetigers (Fig. 8 B). Opened ventro-posteriorly, laterally compressed. Posterior border provided with 3 (4) pairs of short marginal papillae of similar length (Figs 8 J, 10 D), about 0.5 times as long as dorsal anal tube length; internal unpaired smooth anal cirrus only seen in larger specimens, about twice as long as anal tube length; basal papillae not present (Fig. 8 J). Dorsal unpaired anal papilla present in some specimens (Fig. 8 J). Lateral parapodial area, last chaetigers, anal tube and anal unpaired dorsal and paired marginal papillae with brown spots. Variation. The examined specimens exhibit slight variations in the distribution of branchiae and lateral eyespots, fitting well within the original description by Gravier (1905). The characteristic pigmentation of the anal tube in A. melanura is only retained in the largest specimens from Kuwait, extending to the last chaetigers; pigmentation may have faded in smaller individuals due to preservation in ethanol.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	distribution	Distribution / Habitat. Armandia melanura was originally described from the Gulf of Aden (West Arabian Sea; Gravier 1905) and later reported in the Cook Islands (South Pacific Ocean; Gibbs 1972), in mangroves at the Red Sea (Fishelson 1971), the coast of Elat (Israel; Kristensen 1973), in sandy beaches of New Caledonia (SW Pacific Ocean; Baron & Clavier 1994), and in subtidal muddy sand in the Andaman Sea (NW Indian Ocean; Eibye-Jacobsen 2002, as A. cf. melanura). The species has also been included in the checklists by Hartman (1974) and Wehe & Fiege (2002) (Fig. 12). Specimens have been collected in two localities at the southern coast of Kuwait in intertidal sand-rock associated with algae (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFD9FFC5FF38E93C74E8FD6D.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Gravier (1905) characterises A. melanura according to the following characters: 1) 29 chaetigers, 2) simple parapodia that seem bilobed because of the prominent triangular ventral lobe, 3) lateral eyespots present between CH 6 and CH 15, 4) distal body end and anal tube pigmented, and 5) anal tube provided with three pairs of pigmented papillae. Kuwait specimens only differ from the original description in also bearing eyespots in CH 16. Eibye-Jacobsen (2002) reports A. cf. melanura from the Andaman Sea and notes that these specimens are more closely aligned with the description given by Gibbs (1972) for material collected in the Cook Islands. Eibye-Jacobsen (2002) describes an “ elongate tip ” in prechaetal lobes of anterior chaetigers (cfr. fig. 8 B) that is not present in the type series nor in Kuwait specimens. Besides, the drawing showing the small “ ventral cirrus ” posteroventral to neuropodium is wrongly referred to figure 5 C (corresponding to A. andamana Eibye-Jacobsen, 2002); the right illustration for A. cf. melanura is likely to correspond instead to figure 8 C (median parapodium), that shows the typical “ triangular shape ” of the ventral lobe in this species (this work: Fig. 8 C). Furthermore, the number, length and shape of anal tube papillae of A. cf. melanura (cfr. Eibye-Jacobsen 2002: fig. 6 C) do not match with the original description of the species and Kuwait specimens. Therefore, these specimens might correspond to other species that also share with A. melanura a similar pigmentation pattern in the anal tube.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	description	Figures 1, 11 B, 12 – 17; Table 1	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. 1,312 specimens in one hundred and four samples collected in twenty-three localities along the littoral of Kuwait (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe, ventral lobe and dorsal cirrus. Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 12 – 15 chaetigers (CH 6 / 7 – CH 17 / 20) *. Branchiae from CH 2 to last chaetiger. Anal tube opening with ventral incision and provided with 3 pairs of marginal papillae, one pair of basal papillae and unpaired anal cirrus. (*) But see Description and Remarks	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	description	Description. Complete specimens ranging from 6.0 – 13.0 mm in length and 0.4 – 1.0 mm in width for 28 – 36 chaetigers. Prostomium conical, palpode short and clavate (Figs 13 A, 14 B – D, 17 E). Prostomial eyes only seen in alive specimens (Fig. 17 D – E). One pair of ring-shaped nuchal organs (Figs 13 A, 14 A, 17 B, E); pharynx eversible with about 10 oral tentacles in a transversal row (Figs 14 E – F, 17 D – E). Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe, ventral lobe and dorsal cirrus. Prechaetal lobe symmetrical, with a tip giving distal border a pointed appearance (Figs 13 C – F, 15 B – F). Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 15 chaetigers (CH 7 – CH 21) (Fig. 17 D), circular, those of CH 7 and CH 15 – CH 21 smaller than others. Simple, long capillary chaetae in two bundles; notochaetae longer than neurochaetae (Figs 13 C, 15 A, 16 D). Ventral groove deep, well defined along all body (Figs 13 B, 16 D, 17 F). Branchiae present from CH 2 to last body chaetiger (Figs 13 A – B, 16 C), long, almost reaching dorsal midline, not decreasing in length in posterior chaetigers but only in last ones (Figs 13 B, 16 C, 17 F). Anal tube delicate. Shape variable: 1) quadrangular and as long as width at base and as 3 – 4 last chaetigers (Figs 13 B, 17 F) or 2) barrel-shaped, up to 2 – 3 times as long as width at base and as long as last 4 – 5 chaetigers (Fig. 16 C), straight at base, laterally compressed, increasing width at dorsal midline, and tapering again towards distal end. Anal tube opened terminally and with ventral incision (Figs 13 B, 16 A, C – D). Posterior border provided with 4 – 6 pairs of marginal papillae of similar length, about as long (Fig. 17 F) or 0.5 (Fig. 13 B) to 0.33 times as long as anal tube length (Fig. 16 C); internal unpaired ringed (due to fixation?) anal cirrus about 3 times as long as anal tube length, and pair of basal papillae slightly longer and thicker than paired marginal papillae (Figs 13 B, 16 A – D). Variation. Variations in the number of chaetigers, anal tube size and marginal papillae were observed in most samples. Still, they were most pronounced in specimens from Umm Al-Maradim Island (November 2014), Al-Nuwaiseeb, Failaka Island and Masfat Al-Ahmadi (December 2014), as well as Aushairij (February 2015). Furthermore, smaller specimens exhibit a highly contracted anal tube, revealing only the marginal papillae (Figs 16 E – F, 17 A, C). Prostomial eyes were only observed in live specimens (Fig. 17 D – E).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	distribution	Distribution / Habitat. Armandia sinaitica was the most abundant species in the studied material from Kuwait and was present in most of the sampled localities associated with different types of substrates (Tab. 1). Wehe & Fiege (2002) consider this species endemic to the Arabian Peninsula because of the only two existing previous reports by Amoureux (1983 a, b). However, the abundance of this species in Kuwait and the lack of earlier records suggest possible misidentifications with A. intermedia.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFDDFFDAFF38EF7C76DBFDC1.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Armandia sinaitica was originally described from the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea; Amoureux, 1983 a). The Kuwait specimens agree well with the main diagnostic characters of the species (Amoureux 1983 a): 1) 36 to 42 chaetigers (including small specimens), 2) branchiae from CH 2 to last chaetiger, 3) 12 – 15 pairs of lateral eyespots beginning in CH 6 / 7, 4) anal tube shape and features of marginal papillae. Armandia sinaitica clearly differs from the other species found in Kuwait in the shape and size of the anal tube and the presence of two types of anal papillae (marginal and basal). Other similar species are A. casuarina Moreira & Parapar, 2017, A. mariacapae Moreira & Parapar, 2017 and A. opisthoculata Moreira & Parapar, 2017 from Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef). Armandia casuarina mostly differs from A. sinaitica in having one pair of basal papillae that are provided each with about 15 small, digitiform papillae; in addition, in A. casuarina the unpaired anal cirrus is thick at base and slightly tapered distally and the posterior margin of the anal tube bears at least 6 pairs of alternating short and elongate papillae, one of the dorsal most inflated and longer than others (Moreira & Parapar 2017: fig. 5 B-C). Armandia opisthoculata resembles A. sinaitica in the shape of anal tube papillae but the basal papillae and the anal tube are shorter, and the latter also shows large spots of dark pigmentation in the distal ventral surface (Moreira & Parapar 2017: figs 7 G-I, 8 D-F). Armandia mariacapae is the closest species to A. sinaitica but differs in having more marginal papillae (10 pairs vs 4 / 6 pairs) and basal marginal papillae that are provided with an inflated distal end (Moreira & Parapar 2017: fig. 6 G). The other Armandia species previously reported in the Arabian Gulf are A. intermedia (type locality: Senegal), A. lanceolata (type locality: Sri Lanka) and A. leptocirris (type locality: Philippines) (Fig. 12; see Fauvel 1911, 1918; Wesenberg-Lund 1949; Mohammad 1971, 1980; Fiege 1992; Parapar et al. 2021 b). Armandia sinaitica differs from A. intermedia and A. leptocirris in bearing more chaetigers (36 – 42 vs 27 – 29 and 34, respectively); A. leptocirris bears 10 – 11 pairs of marginal papillae that are much smaller than those of A. sinaitica and lacks paired basal papillae, and A. lanceolata has a smaller anal tube that bears only one type of papillae (Eibye-Jacobsen 2002: fig. 6 C). Armandia intermedia was originally described from the coast of Senegal (W Africa, Atlantic Ocean; Fauvel 1902) (Fig. 12) and has been reported later across the world in different habitats, from western Africa to the Red Sea and NW Australia and in the Pacific Ocean (Japan and New Caledonia) (Day 1967). The anal tube of this species is tubular, annulated, about 0.66 times as long as wide and provided with two types of papillae and anal cirrus. These features are shared by several species of Armandia (e. g. A. maculata Webster, 1884, A. laminosa Parapar & Moreira, 2015, A. paraintermedia Parapar & Moreira, 2015) and therefore it is likely that some records of A. intermedia may correspond to other species.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	description	Figures 1, 11 D, 12, 18; Table 1	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Two specimens from one sample collected in the littoral of Saudi Arabia (Fig. 1, Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe, ventral lobe and dorsal cirrus. Prechaetal lobe about 1 / 3 of branchial length in CH 1 and progressively decreasing in length till body end. Lateral eyespots from CH 6 to CH 27 / 28. Branchiae from CH 2 to last chaetiger. Anal tube about three times as long as wide, spoon-shaped, with wide dorsal incision extending about half tube length and to posterior margin; posterior margin provided with 5 – 6 pairs of marginal papillae and unpaired anal cirrus; no ventral incision.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	description	Description. Specimens 21.0 and 11.2 mm long, 1.0 and 0.5 mm wide respectively, both with 32 chaetigers. Prostomium conical, palpode short and clavate (Fig. 18 A). Prostomial eyes not seen. One pair of ring-shaped nuchal organs (Fig. 18 A); pharynx not seen. Parapodia biramous, with prechaetal lobe, ventral lobe and dorsal cirrus (Fig. 18 B – G). Prechaetal lobe long in CH 1 about as long as CH 2 branchiae (Fig. 18 B); decreasing in length progressively from CH 1 to CH 8 – 10 (Fig. 18 C – F), about 1 / 10 of branchial length in CH 10, then becoming much shorter towards body end (Fig. 18 G). Dorsal cirrus globose from CH 1 to about CH 17 (Fig. 18 B – F). Lateral eyespots anterior to parapodia on 20 chaetigers (CH 6 – CH 27 / 28) (Fig. 18 A); circular, those of CH 6 and CH 16 – CH 27 / 28 much smaller. Simple, very long capillary chaetae in two bundles; notochaetae longer than neurochaetae. Ventral groove deep, well defined along the body. Branchiae present from CH 2 to last chaetiger (Fig. 18 A – H), long, almost reaching body dorsal midline, not decreasing in length in posterior chaetigers. Anal tube only present in small specimen; as long as last 4 chaetigers, about three times as long as wide (Fig. 18 H – I). Anal tube opening directed posteriorly and dorsally; wide dorsal incision extending posteriorly about tube dorsal distal half (Fig. 18 H). One short, pointed marginal papilla still present; ringed unpaired anal cirrus, about as long as anal tube (Fig. 18 H – I). No ventral incision. Variation. Number of chaetigers and parapodial prechaetal lobe size and distribution are similar in the two examined specimens.	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	distribution	Distribution / Habitat. Armandia weissenbornii was originally described from the Perim Island (Gulf of Aden, Red Sea; Kükenthal 1887) (Fig. 12). Posteriorly, Amoureux (1983 a) described specimens attributed to this species from the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea); this record is later mentioned by Hartman (1959, 1974), Amoureux (1983 b), Wehe & Fiege (2002), Le Garrec (2013) and Pamungkas & Glasby (2019). The two specimens studied in this work have been collected in shallow subtidal sand in Ras az-Zawr (Tab. 1).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
03B70F11FFC2FFEBFF38EED0734DFAD9.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Armandia weissenbornii is characterised by the following diagnostic features, which were fully observed in Kuwait specimens: 1) 32 chaetigers, 2) long parapodial lobes in anterior chaetigers, 3) branchiae from CH 2 to last chaetiger, 4) anal tube with 5 – 6 pairs of marginal papillae and ringed unpaired anal cirrus (Kükenthal 1887; Amoureux 1983 a). ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page ...... continued on the next page The characteristic length and shape of the parapodial lobe of A. weissenbornii is a conspicuous feature of this species, quite resembling a second branchia per parapodium as stated by Amoureux (1983 a, p. 727): “ au point de ressembler une branchie en position plus ventrale que la branchie véritable ”. A few Indopacific species also show long and / or large parapodial lobes at least in the first chaetigers, namely Armandia bifida Parapar & Moreira, 2015, A. casuarina, A. laminosa and A. mariacapae. Regarding A. laminosa, the lobe is foliose instead of triangular and not much longer than wide; this shape is restricted to the first three chaetigers (Parapar & Moreira 2015: figs 7 A, C-E, 8 D, 9 E). In A. bifida, parapodial lobes in the first three chaetigers are long but bifid appearing symmetrically biramous (Parapar & Moreira 2015: fig. 3 A, D-E). On the contrary, A. casuarina bears only a long parapodial lobe in CH 1 which decreases in length in the following two chaetigers. Finally, in A. mariacapae parapodial lobes are triangular and longer than wide in all chaetigers but comparatively shorter than in A. weissenbornii (Moreira & Parapar 2017: fig. 6 B-F). The anal tube is spoon-shaped and bears a long dorso-terminal opening that is not explicitly mentioned in the original description or by Amoureux (1983 a) but illustrated by the latter in figure 7 (see also atdi in Fig. 11 D). Regarding anal papillae, Kükenthal (1887) states that these are as long as last four chaetigers and refers just a few small papillae (“ einigen sehr kleinen Papillen ”, p. 368) while Amoureux (1983 a) mentions 5 – 6 papillae that according to the illustration seem to number up to 10 (5 pairs). In several species of Armandia, the anal tube is also provided with a wide opening as A. weissenbornii. In A. bifida and Armandia sampadae Gopal et al., 2016, the opening is ventro-posterior instead of dorso-posterior; the marginal papillae are much smaller in A. bifida (Parapar & Moreira 2015: fig. 3 B-C) while A. sampadae bears papillae that are much longer instead and lacks the unpaired anal cirrus (Fig. 11 A). A. casuarina and A. mariacapae bear two types of anal papillae (Moreira & Parapar 2017: fig. 5 B-C and fig. 6 G, respectively) and in A. mariacapae the anal tube opening is restricted to the terminal margin. The extension of the anal opening in A. simodaensis Takahashi, 1938 (Japan) is similar to that of A. weissenbornii but the anal tube is longer (as long as 8 – 10 last chaetigers) and lacks anal papillae and cirrus (Takahashi 1938: fig. 1, 2; Fig. 11 C); Takahashi (1938) also mentions the presence of “ long subulate dorsal parapodial cirrus ” (not illustrated) and fewer numbers of chaetigers (28 vs 32) and pairs of branchiae (26 vs 31) and lateral eyes (10 vs 20). Regarding specimens from Kuwait, these show slight differences in lateral eyespots with previous descriptions. According to Kükenthal (1887), there are 13 pairs of eyespots (CH 9 – CH 21), that are smaller between CH 16 and CH 21 while Amoureux (1983 a) mentions 12 pairs beginning in CH 7. On the other hand, differences in number of anal papillae might be due to the state of preservation. Therefore, the aforementioned peculiar shape and length of the parapodial lobe present in Kuwait specimens suggests that these belong to A. weissenbornii. However, we cannot confirm this possibility due to the limited number of specimens available, the scarcity of reports and descriptions for this species and the potential presence of other unknown species with similar parapodia. These specimens were previously reported by Fiege (1992) as Armandia longicaudata, which is now placed in Ophelina due to the absence of lateral eyespots (Neave & Glasby 2013; Parapar et al. 2023). In addition, in O. longicaudata the anal tube is longer, and the opening is restricted to the posterior margin (Caullery 1944: fig. 35).	en	Parapar, Julio, Al-Kandari, Manal, Moreira, Juan (2025): The genus Armandia Filippi, 1861 (Annelida, Opheliidae) on the coast of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Zootaxa 5728 (1): 107-143, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5728.1.4
