Introduction

The marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of Hawaii

The marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of Hawaii

CP-1989-01
The marine Tubificidae (Oligochaeta) of Hawaii

Erasmus, Christer, and Dale Davis

The taxonomy and biogeography of the marine Tubificidae of the Hawaiian islands are studied for the first time. Twenty-three species are reported from largely subtidal habitats at the islands of Oahu and Maui. Eleven species are new to science: Bathydrilus exilis, Phallodrilus ampullarius, P. aquilinus, P. distinctus, Coralliodrilus aequalis, Inanidrilus dutchae, Olavius parapellucidus, O. (Coralliodriloides) strigosus, O. (C.) mokapuensis, Limnodriloides hawaiiensis, and Tubificoides pulvereus. Taxonomic notes are given for most of the other species. At least four of the species recorded from Hawaii have a more or less circumtropical distribution, whereas six others appear to be members of the Indo-West Pacific fauna. Three of the Hawaiian species were previously known only from the Caribbean area, indicating that they may be present in the East Pacific as well.