Diversity of Annelida from the coasts of Türkiye

The compilation of scientific papers dealing with marine annelids (including Sipuncula) along the coasts of Türkiye (Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, Aegean Sea and Levantine Sea) together with the new records of polychaete species (22 species) presented in this study resulted in 827 species belonging to 63 families. Polychaeta were represented by 782 species, Sipuncula by 21 species, Oligochaeta by 18 species, Hirudinea by 5 species and Echiura by 1 species. Syllidae (127 species), Spionidae (57 species) and Serpulidae (56 species) were the most species-rich families and their numbers varied among the seas. Most annelid species were benthic (808 species), 14 species were pelagic, and 5 species (leeches) were parasitic. The Aegean Sea had the highest number of species (634 species), followed by the Levantine Sea (566 species) and the Sea of Marmara (479 species). A total of 72 alien annelid species were reported from the regions, with the highest number of alien species (64 species) being found in the Levantine Sea and the lowest number of alien species (3 species) in the Black Sea.