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WOODS HOLE. MASSACHUSETTS 02543

Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems
Identification Manual No. 4

FRESHWATER POLYCHAETES (MNELIDA) OF NORTH AMERICA

by

&!OLOG!CAL -

IJbnARY

Nancy Foster I •"— ~ '

Chairman, Department of Biology \ V.-QCDS HOLE, J-'iASS.
Dunbarton College ? \v,. H. 0. I.
Washington, D.C. 20008 '

for the

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Project # 18050 ELD
Contract # 14-12-894

March 1972

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C 20402 - Price $2.50

Stock Number 5501-0368

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onmental Protection Agency and approved for
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and policies of the EPA, nor does mention of
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endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.

11

FOREWORD

"Freshwater Polychaetes (Annelida) of North America" is the
fourth of a series of identification manuals for selected
taxa of invertebrates occurring in freshwater systems. These
documents prepared by the Oceanography and Limnology Program,
Smithsonian Institution for the Environmental Protection Agency
will contribute toward improving the quality of the data upon
which environmental decisions are based.

Additional manuals will include, but not necessarily be lim-
ited to, freshwater representatives of the following groups:
amphipod crustaceans (Gammaridae) , branchiuran crustaceans
(Argulus) , isopod crustaceans (Asellidae) , decapod crayfish
crustaceans (Astacidae) , leeches (Hirudinea) , freshwater
planarians (Turbellaria) , aquatic dryopoid beetles (Dryopoidea)
and freshwater clams (Sphaeriacea) .

Ill

ABSTRACT

Eight species of freshwater polychaetes are re-
ported in the form of a key. Three families are
represented: Nereidae with six species;
Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one
species. The key includes only those polychaetes
actually collected from freshwater and not those
reported to withstand low salinities under ex-
perimental laboratory situations. Collection
and preservation methods are discussed as well as
characters used in specific identification.

CONTENTS

Section Page

I Introduction 1

Collecting and Preservation 3

Identification 3

II Species List and Ranges 5

III Key to the North American Freshwater Polychaeta 7

IV Acknowledgements 11

V References 13

VI Index to Scientific Names 15

Vll

FIGURES

Page

1 Taxonomic characters used in identification of North 2
American polychaetes .

2 Anterior end of Mevoieretla enigmatica, Manyunkia sp.eciosa, 7

Nereis limnioola.

3 Operculum of Mera-ierella enigmatiaa . 8

4 Parapodia of Nereis suoainea and N. lirrtnioota , 9

5 Parapodia of Laeonereis oulveri and Namanereis hcaoaiiensisj 10
tentacular cirri of Lyaastoides alticola .

Vlll

SECTION I
INTRODUCTION

It is obvious from the number of species represented in this key that
very little is known about North American freshwater polychaetes. The
number of freshwater species in the world is quite small when compared
with the vast number of marine species. There are several marine forms
which have penetrated brackish and fresh water but remain unable to breed
there while others have adapted sufficiently to remain for their entire
life span. Of the some 60 polychaete families, only seven have been re-
ported as having freshwater representatives. These are the Nereidae,
Nephthyidae, Lumbrineridae, Spionidae, Capitellidae, Ampharetidae, Sabel-
lidae and Serpulidae (Wesenberg-Lund, 1958) , The largest number of fresh-
water species are of the families Nereidae and Sabellidae, the others hav-
ing fewer than five representatives. All freshwater representatives are
from well established marine families and have not required the establish-
ment of any taxon higher than genus. The Nereidae, with the largest number
of freshwater species, are known for their ability to withstand extreme
salinity changes and have been widely used as experimental animals in
salinity tolerance work. This paper is not concerned with those worms re-
ported to withstand fresh water in the laboratory, but only with those
actually collected from fresh water. Some of the species included in this
paper are strictly freshwater forms while others are euryhaline.

Of the known freshwater species, the majority are from South America and
Asia with only a small proportion having been collected in North America.
There have been several papers dealing with freshwater polychaete species
and comprehensive surveys were made by Wesenberg-Lund (1958), Southern
(1921) and Stammer (1932) . It is very probable that there are many more
species present and that our lack or knowledge is due to their small size
and to the scarcity of collections made with polychaetes in mind as well
as the scarcity of specialists willing to work with them. Eight species,
representing six genera are included in this paper. Several species are
in monotypic genera but the majority are in typical marine genera. The
species list in this paper includes three families: Nereidae with six
species; Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one species.

Fig. 1. Taxonomic characters used in identification of North American
freshwater polychaetes. Nereidae a-f: a- Dorsal view anterior end with
proboscis everted; b- Uniramous parapodium; c- Biramous parapodium; d-
Pharynx, dorsal and ventral views; e- Spiniger; f- Falciger. Sabellidae
g-h: g- Capillary seta; h- Hook. Serpulidae i-j : i- Capillary seta; j-
Hook.

nt-notopodium; nr-neuropodium; Ig-ligules; ph-pharynx; j-jaw; pg-paragnath;
o-oral ring; m-maxillary ring.

COLLECTING AND PRESERVATION

Freshwater species are collected in much the same manner as marine forms.
Those from shore areas and shallow water are collected with a shovel and
a fine sieve. The sediment is placed in the sieve, washed through and
the remaining animals then removed. Those from deeper water may be col-
lected by dredging or by the use of grab samplers the sediment from which
is then washed through a fine sieve.

Polychaetes should be initially preserved in 10% formalin and subsequent-
ly transferred to 70% ethyl alcohol. As usual, whenever possible obser-
vations should be made on the living animal noting such things as color-
ation, presence of eyes etc. as these may possibly change or disappear in
the preservatives.

IDENTIFICATION

Essentials for identification are a dissecting microscope, compound micro-
scope, micro-dissecting scissors, micro-forceps, slides and cover slips.
In some instances, fine needles are beneficial. Glycerin serves as a
satifactory temporary mounting medium and glycerin jelly for more perman-
ent mounts. If the setae and/or parapodia need to be examined, the para-
podia should be removed and viewed on a slide under the compound micro-
scope.

The following is a discussion of characters used in the identification of
North American species. A nereid is a typical errant polychaete with a
well developed prostomium, sensory appendages and often with eyes (Fig.
la). The parapodia are also well developed and may be uniramous (Fig. lb)
with one setigerous lobe or biramous (Fig. Ic) with two lobes. In bira-
mous parapodia the dorsal lobe is the notopodium and the ventral lobe the
neuropodium with the various subdivisions of these lobes referred to as
ligules (see Fig. Ic) . The term setiger refers to any setae-bearing
segment. Nereids possess an eversible pharynx armed with jaws and coni-
cal projections called paragnaths (see Fig. Ic) . The pharynx may also
be smooth or bear soft papillae. The arrangement of these paragnaths
and papillae is characteristic for each species and the pharynx is divid-
ed into two rings, the oral ring surrounding the mouth and the maxillary
ring where the jaws are inserted. These two rings are in turn subdivid-
ed into areas where the paragnaths are located. The areas are designated
by Roman numerals (Fig. Id) . Setae are compound spinigers with thin,
tapering blades or falcigers with short blunt blades (Fig. le, f ) . In
the Sabellidae and Serpulidae, which are sedentary forms, the body is
divided into two regions with pronounced differences in the parapodia
and setae. Parapodia are reduced and not elaborately developed as in
the nereids. The setae are simple capillaries and hooks (Fig. Ig-j).
The anterior end is modified to form a branchial plume or crown which is
used for food getting and respiration (Fig. 2).

SECTION II
SPECIES LIST AND RANGES

Nereidae

Laeonereis culveri (Webster, 1879) . Eastern coast brackish water and
freshwater tributaries.

Lyoastoides alt-iaola Johnson, 1903. Sierra Laguna, California; mountain
stream.

Lyoastopsis hummelinaki Augener, 1933. West Florida coast brackish water
and freshwater tributaries.

Namanereis hawaiiensis (Johnson, 1903) . Southern California freshwater
pond.

Nereis lirrmioola Johnson, 1903. Lake Merced, San Francisco, California
north to Coos Bay, Oregon.

Nereis suooinea Frey and Leuckart, 1847. Cosmopolitan east and west
coasts brackish to fresh water.

Sabellidae

Manyunkia speciosa Leidy, 1858. Lake Erie; Lake Superior; Schuylkill
River Fairmont, Philadelphia; Egg Harbor River, New Jersey.

Serpulidae

Meroierella enigmatiaa Fauvel, 1922. Lake Merritt, Oakland, California;
tributaries. Gulf of Mexico. Fresh, brackish and marine waters.

The above distributions are limited to North America even though many
of the species are found in other parts of the world.

SECTION III
KEY TO THE NORTH AMERICAN FRESHWATER POLYCHAETA

Anterior end of body modified to form branchial crown of

filaments surrounding the mouth (Fig. 2a, b) . Prostomium
reduced. Parapodia reduced; with simple capillary setae
and hooks . Sedentary

Anterior end of body without branchial crown. Prostomium
well developed usually with eyes and sensory appendages
(Fig. 2c). Parapodia well developed; usually with compound
as well as simple setae. Errant

a

Fig. 2. a- Mercierella enigmatiaa, lateral view anterior end;
b- Manyunkia speoiosa, dorsal view anterior end; c- Nereis
limniaola, dorsal view anterior end.

2(1) Branchial crown with stalked operculum showing considerable
degree of variability (Fig. 3a-c) . Thoracic region with
well defined collar [see Fig. 2a). With calcareous tube:

MevcievelZa enigmatica
Branchial crown without stalked operculum. Thorax lacking

collar (Fig. 2b). Tube membranous or sandy: Manyunkia speciosa

Fig. 3. Mevcierella enigmatica: a- Dorsal view operculum; b- Dorso-
lateral view operculum; c- Lateral view operculum showing two indivi-
ual teeth.

3(1) Eversible proboscis with few to many paragnaths on both max-
illary and oral rings. With prostomial eyes (Fig. 2c) 4

Eversible proboscis without paragnaths; with or without pa-
pillae. With or without prostomial eyes 5

4(3) Parapodia biramous; well developed. Posterior dorsal noto-
podial lobes much enlarged and often foliaceous (Fig. 4a).
Proboscis area VI with 7-15 paragnaths; area V with 2-5.
Neuropodial falcigers only; with straight blades (Fig. 4b):

Nereis succinea
Parapodia biramous; well developed but without enlarged post-
erior notopodial lobe (Fig. 4c). Proboscis area VI with 3-4
small paragnaths; area V with none {see Fig. 2c). Neuro-
podial falcigers only; similar to those of N. suaainea:

Nereis limnicola

Fig. 4. a- Nereis succinea, anterior view posterior parapodium; b-
N. succinea, posterior falciger; c- N. limnicola, posterior view
posterior parapodium.

5(3) Parapodia biramous; with number of lobes reduced in posterior

setigers (Fig. 5a-b) . Proboscis with groups of soft papillae:

Laeonereis oulveri
Parapodia uniramous 6

6(5) Prostomium not bilobed; without eyes. With 3 pairs of tenta-
cular cirri. Proboscis without papillae; with elevated
pads on dorsal side of basal ring: Lycastopsis hummelincki
Prostomium bilobed. With 4 pairs of tentacular cirri 7

7C6) With tentacular cirri generally uniform in length; short,
tapering. With eyes. Falcigers with long, smooth tips
(Fig. 5c): Namanereis hccuaiiensis

With tentacular cirri which appear articulated; not

uniform in length (Fig. 5d) . Without eyes: Lyaastoides altioola

Fig. 5. a- LaeoneTeis oulveri, posterior view anterior parapodium; b-

L. aulveri, posterior view posterior parapodium; c- Namanereis hauaiiensis ,

posterior falciger; d- Lyaastoides altioola, tentacular cirri.

10

SECTION IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to thank the Smithsonian Institution, Division of Worms, for the
use of the polychaete collections.

11

SECTION V

REFERENCES

* References not referred to in the text.

Augener, H. 1933. Susswasser Polychaeten von Bonaire. Zootogische

Jdhrbuoher. Systematik^ Okologie und Geographie der Tiere, 64:351-

356.
Fauvel, P. 1922. Un nouveau serpulien d'eau Saumatre Mercieretla

enigmatioa. Bulletin de la Soaiete zoologique de France, 47:425-

431.
*Hartman, 0. 1938. Brackish and freshwater Nereidae from the northeast

Pacific, with a description of a new species from Central California.

University of California Publications in Zoology^ 43(4):79-82.
*Horst, R. 1922. Polychaete Anneliden. Flora en fauna der Zuiderzee,

262-275.
Johnson, H. P. 1903. Freshwater nereids from the Pacific coast and

Hawaii with remarks on freshwater Polychaeta in general, pp. 205-

223, pis. 16-17. In Mark Anniversary Volume, Henry Holt and Company,

New York.
Leidy, Y. 1858. Manyunkia speciosa. Proceedings of the Academy of

Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 10:90.
Southern, R. 1921. Polychaeta of the Chilka Lake and also of fresh and

brackish waters in other parts of India. Memoirs of the Indian

Museum, 5:563-659.
Stammer, H. 1932. Die Fauna des Timavo. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der

Hohlengewasser des Suss- und Brackwassers im Karst. Zoologisohe

Jahrhuaher. Systematik, Okologie und Geographie der Tiere, 63:

521-656.
Webster, H. 1879. Annelida Chaetopoda of New Jersey. New York State

Museum of Natural History. Report, 32:101-125.
Wesenberg-Lund, E. 1958. Lesser Antillean Polychaetes, chiefly from

brackish water with a survey and a bibliography of fresh and

brackish water polychaetes. Studies on the Fauna of Curac^ao and

other Caj'ibhean Islands, 8:1-41.

13

SECTION VI
INDEX TO SCIENTIFIC NAMES

alticola (Lycastoides) , 5,10 Mercievella enigmatica, 5,7,8

cutvevi (Laeonereis) , 5,9,10 Namanereis hawaiiensis , 5,10

enigmatica (Mercievella) , 5,7,8 Nereidae, 3,5

hawaiiensis (Namanereis) ^ 5,10 Nereis limniaolaj 5,7,9

hwrmelincki (Lyoastopsis) , 5,10 suaainea, 5,9

Laeonereis culveri, 5,9,10 Sabellidae, 3,5

limnicola (Nereis), 5,6,9 Serpulidae, 3,5

Lycastoides alticola, 5,10 speciosa (Manyunkia) , 5,7

Lycastopsis hummelincki, 5,10 succinea (Nereis), 5,9
Manyunkia speciosa, 5 , 7

15

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INPUT TRANSACTION FORM

/. Report No.

S. Accession No.

w

4. Title BIOTA OF FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS IDENTIFICATION MANUAL *• ReportDate
NO. 4 Freshwater Polychaetes (Annelida) of North America, 6.

7. AutboT(s)

Foster, N.

9. Organization Department of Biology,
Dunbarton College,
Washington, D. C.

12. Sponsoring Organization

15. Supplementary Notes

S. Performing Organization
Report No.

10. Project No.

18050 ELD

11. Contract/Grant No.

14-12-894

13. Type of Report and
Period Covered

Abstract

Eight species of freshwater polychaetes are reported in the form of
a key. Three families are represented: Nereidae with six species;
Sabellidae with one species; Serpulidae with one species. The key
includes only those polychaetes actually collected from freshwater
and not those reported to withstand low salinities under experimental
laboratory situations. Collection and preservation methods are dis-
cussed as well as characters used in specific identification.

17a. Descriptors

*Aquatic fauna, *Freshwater, Preservation, Distribution.

I7b.identi6ers *identif ication Manual, *Illustrated Key, *Freshwater Polychaeta,
♦Annelida, *North America, Species List, Collection.

J7c. COWRR Field & Group

IS. Availability

10 A

19. Security Class.
(Report)

20. Security Class.
(Page)

21. No. of
Pages

22. Price

Send To :

WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
WASHINGTON, D C 20240

Abstractor Nancy Foster

\ Institution Dunbarton College, Washington, D.C.

WRSIC 102 (REV JUNE 1971)

ft V. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1972 O - 467-242