Three new species of Levinsenia Mesnil, 1897 (Annelida: Paraonidae) from shallow and deep waters of Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Abstract

Three new species of Levinsenia were collected during a benthic survey, from 10-3,000 m deep, in Espírito Santo Basin, off the southeastern Brazilian coast. These species are L. paivai sp. nov., L. blakei sp. nov. and L. lesliae sp. nov. Members of L. paivai sp. nov. are recognized by the presence of nine pairs of well-developed and heavily ciliated branchiae, those of L. blakei sp. nov. are characterized by the presence of three pairs of small branchiae, and those of L. lesliae sp. nov., by the absence of branchiae and presence of notopodial transitional chaetae. These new species are described herein and compared to the most similar congeners. These are the first new species of Levinsenia described from off the Brazilian coast.