Seven new species of scaleworms (Lepidonotopodini, Polynoidae, Polychaeta, Annelida) from deep-sea chemosynthetic-based ecosystems

Abstract Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856 contains the subfamily Macellicephalinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971, which is a diverse clade of scaleworms from extreme marine environments, specifically anchialine caves and deep-sea ecosystems. The tribe Lepidonotopodini Pettibone, 1983 is a clade of macellicephalins native to deep-sea chemosynthetic-based ecosystems, such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps, but also organic remains such as whale falls. The goal of this study was to formally describe seven new Lepidonotopodini species within four genera, using morphology and genetic data (phylogenetics and distance calculations): Cladopolynoe chrysae sp. nov., type locality at hydrothermal vents in the Pescadero Basin, Gulf of California, Mexico; Photinopolynoe iskrae sp. nov., type locality at a whale fall off San Diego, California, USA; Photinopolynoe jorgecortesi sp. nov., type locality at a methane seep at Jaco Scar, Costa Rica; Photinopolynoe lunae sp. nov., type locality at Parrita Seep, Costa Rica; Photinopolynoe margaretleinenae sp. nov. and Stratigos theoi sp. nov., both with a type locality at Alarcon Rise vents in the Gulf of California, Mexico; and Themis agapi sp. nov., type locality at Niuatahi vents in the Tonga-Tofua Arc, South Pacific Ocean.