A re-examination of Grania monochaeta (Michaelsen) (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae), with descriptions of two new species from subantarctic South Georgia

Responsible organisation

1997 (English)In: Journal of Natural History, Vol. 31, no 1, p. 27-42Article in journal (Refereed)

Abstract [en]

A comparative study of some syntypes of Grania monochaeta (Michaelsen, 1888) deposited in Italy, and all other material referred to this species, including some found in Beddard's collection at the Natural History Museum in London, shows that three distinct species are involved. Both Michaelsen's syntypes and the material from Beddard's collection contain a mixture of the true G. monochaeta , whose description is here augmented, and specimens referable to a taxon described by Erséus and Lasserre in 1977. For the latter (here named G. lasserrei sp. n.), additional distinctive characters and an extended variation of the setal distribution are described. The worms studied by Stephenson (in 1932) belong to a third species, G. stephensoniana sp. n., whose description is also augmented. The taxonomic confusion associated with G. monochaeta is discussed. Due to the lack of records of Grania in the neighbouring regions, the biogeography of the South Georgian assemblage is far from understood. From the knowledge presently available, G. lasserrei sp. n. and G. stephensoniana sp. n. exhibit their closest affinities to High Antarctic taxa.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages

1997. Vol. 31, no 1, p. 27-42

Keywords [en]

worms, benthos, South Georgia, Grania, Enchytraeidae, South Georgia, sub-Antarctic, taxonomy, new species, head organ

Identifiers

URN: urn:nbn:se:polar:diva-1427DOI: 10.1080/00222939700770031 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:polar-1427DiVA, id: diva2:569564

Note

Source: Polardok by Swedish Polar Research Secretariat

Available from: 2012-11-15 Created: 2012-11-15 Last updated: 2012-11-15

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