Namalycastis abiuma ( Grube, 1872 )

Glasby, Christopher J., 2015, Nereididae (Annelida: Phyllodocida) of Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 207-239 : 217

Namalycastis abiuma ( Grube, 1872) species group Glasby, 1999

Lycastis abiuma Grube, 1872: 47 –49.

Namalycastis abiuma (Grube) species group Glasby, 1999: 31 –35, figs 1c, 8a, b, 9.

Material examined. AM: W.20243 (22), Crystal Beach, 14°40.2’S 145°28.2’E, 0 m, coll. P.A. Hutchings & A. Reid, 1986; W.20244 (1), upper reaches of creek at Crystal Beach, 14°40.2’S 145° 28.2’E, 0 m, coll. P.A. Hutchings & A. Reid, 1985.

Diagnosis. Namalycastis species with brown pigmentation antero-dorsally and on pygidium; one or few notochaetae usually present; subneuroacicular spinigers of mid-posterior parapodia having coarsely serrated blades.

Remarks. This species was first reported from Lizard Island by Glasby (1999), who described it as a species group because of the large intraspecific variation; component species within the group were not named. A subsequent combined molecular/morphometric study of this species group in India showed the existence of multiple cryptic species within a region ( Magesh et al. 2014). The specimens found at Lizard Island are therefore almost certainly different from the type specimens from Santa Catarina Island, Brazil; however, they are not described as a new species until further material is collected including specimens for molecular studies.

Habitat. Mud and detritus in creek.

Type locality of species. Santa Catarina Island, Brazil.

Distribution. Circum-tropical and -subtropical.