New species and record of Dodecaceria (Annelida: Cirratulidae) the Biological Reserve of Rocas Atoll, Brazil, the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean

PLoS One. 2023 Oct 23;18(10):e0293087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293087. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The polychaete Family Cirratulidae is one of the most abundant and diverse groups of Annelida, although it remains poorly known worldwide. Dodecaceria Ørsted, 1843 is one of the least described genera of Cirratulidae. The present report is the first taxonomic study of the genus Dodecaceria for the Brazilian coast. Cirratulidae were collected at Rocas Atoll, the first Brazilian marine protected area and the only atoll in the South Atlantic Ocean. We described one new species, Dodecaceria zelinhae n. sp., and a new record of D. dibranchiata Blake & Dean, 2019, previously only known from Panama. The new species is distinguished from other Dodecaceria species by having lateral tentacles, a smooth peristomium, 3-5 pairs of branchiae, hooks from chaetiger 11 in notopodia and 9 in neuropodia. Dodecaceria dibranchiata, a Caribbean species, is here recorded for the first time in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Annelida*
  • Atlantic Ocean
  • Brazil
  • Caribbean Region
  • Cephalopoda*
  • Polychaeta*

Grants and funding

RF currently receives a doctoral scholarship from CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) (proc. 88887.613924/2021-00) https://www.gov.br/capes/pt-br. All authors would like to thank CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) for supporting the development of this research (405411/2012) https://www.gov.br/cnpq/pt-br. Funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or manuscript preparation.