First Record of the Alien and Invasive Polychaete <i>Laonome triangularis</i> Hutchings & Murray, 1984 (Annelida, Sabellidae) in Italian Waters

Abstract

In recent years, the introduction of alien and invasive marine species in the Mediterranean Sea has rapidly increased. Laonome triangularis is a sabellid worm, native to the Australian coasts. Its first record in the Mediterranean Sea dates back to 2009 and, in this area, it is currently labeled as an allochthonous species. In the present work, we report the fìrst record of this polycheate in Italian waters and we provide some diagnostic features that are useful to identify the species.

Keywords

• Mediterranean Sea
• Tyrrhenian Sea
• port
• biological invasions
• allochthonous species
• macrozoobenthos