Sabellidae (Polychaeta) Principally from the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Morphological and distributional observations are reported for 14 northeast Pacific sabellids, largely using collections from British Columbia and Washington waters, and for one species from New Zealand. For nine of these, additions to the descriptions are provided based on type material. Eudistylia Bush is revised using a new combination of diagnostic characters. Eudistylia catharinae is newly described; E. tenella Bush is regarded as a synonym of E. vancouveri (Kinberg). Diagnostic characters at the generic level, particularly those of Sabella Linnæus, are discussed. Demonax Kinberg, considered to be a subgenus of Sabella, is emended. Distylia volutacornis pacifica Berkeley and Berkeley is elevated to specific rank and referred to Demonax. Jasmineira pacifica Annenkova, Oriopsis gracilis Hartman, and an unnamed species of Sabellastarte Savigny are new additions to the polychaete fauna of British Columbia and Washington. Key words: British Columbia, Demonax, Eudistylia, northeast Pacific, Polychaeta, Sabella, Sabellidae, Washington