A new species of scale-worm (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from Axial Volcano, Juan de Fuca Ridge, northeast Pacific

摘要

Vampiropolynoe embleyi, a new genus and species of scale-worm (Polychaeta: Polynoidae), is described from hydrothermal vents created by the 1998 eruption of Axial Volcano (Juan de Fuca Ridge, NE Pacific). Based on this species we propose a new subfamily, the Vampiropolynoinae. This subfamily is closely related to the deep-sea subfamilies Macellicephalinae and Lepidonotopodinae. However, the Vampiropolynoinae differs by having a significantly greater number of segments, by lacking jaws, and by possessing a pair of strong curved acicular lobes on the tentacular segment. The mouth structure, along with sea-floor observations, suggests that V. embleyi grazes on bacterial mats. We propose that V. embleyi is a pioneer species adapted to living at new vents.