Vol. 76, pp. 89-104 2 August 1963 OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON REVISION OF SOME GENERA OF POLYCHAETE WORMS OF THE FAMILY SPIONIDAE, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF SCOLELEPIS By Marian H. Pettibone 1 University of New Hampshire In reviewing the Spionidae from the New England region, the genera have proved to be particularly difficult. The char-acters that have been used to distinguish some of them are questionable. The same generic names have sometimes been based on different type species and so used in dissimilar senses. Monographic works on the Spionidae by Mesnil (1896) and Soderstrdm ( 1920 ) have added considerably to our knowledge of the group but they are in disagreement on some basic points in regard to generic names. An attempt is made in the present paper to lessen the generic confusion that has prevailed in two groups of spionids: those with branchiae and pointed pros-tomia, and those with branchiae and distinct frontal horns. Among the spionid material examined, a new species of Scolelepis was found among some polychaetes collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and sent to me by E. L. Bousfield of the National Museum of Canada. The holotype, four paratypes and seven additional specimens are deposited in the National Museum of Canada; five paratypes and five additional spec-imens are deposited in the U. S. National Museum. This study was carried out for the most part at the U. S. National Museum and aided by grants from the National Sci-ence Foundation (NSF G-4833 and GR-136). The spionid genera with branchiae and with pointed pros-tomia include Scolelepis Blainville (including the subgenus Nerinides Mesnil), Aonides Claparede, and Dispio Hartman. The prostomia are distinctly pointed, without frontal horns, 1 Present address: United States National Museum. 12— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 76, 1963 (89)
BioStor
