Sabellida Levinsen, 1883 is a large morphologically uniform group of sedentary annelids commonly known as fanworms. These annelids live in tubes made either of calcareous carbonate or mucus with agglutinated sediment. They share the presence of an anterior crown consisting of radioles and the division of the body into thorax and abdomen marked by a chaetal and fecal groove inversion. This study synthesises the current state of knowledge about the diversity of fanworms in the broad sense (morphological, ecological, species richness), the species occurrences in the different biogeographic regions, highlights latest surveys, provides guidelines for identification of members of each group, and describe novel methodologies for species delimitation. As some members of this group are well-known introduced pests, we address information about these species and their current invasive status. In addition, an overview of the current evolutionary hypothesis and history of the classification of members of Sabellida is presented. The main aim of this review is to highlight the knowledge gaps to stimulate research in those directions.

Spionidae (Polychaeta: Canalipalpata: Spionida) from seamounts in the NE Atlantic

In 2009, a hitherto unknown Laonome species was found in the Canal Ghent-Terneuzen in the Netherlands and subsequently in other Dutch rivers, canals and estuaries. A few years later, more unknown Laonome specimens were found in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea and in the Don River estuary, Sea of Azov. Initially, it was assumed that these specimens could represent Laonome calida Capa, 2007, originally described from Australia. In the present study we examine all these unknown European Laonome specimens and compare these specimens with the type material of L. calida from Australia. This lead to two main results: First, all specimens from Europe have the same diagnostic characters and therefore belong to one species. This finding was also supported by the results of a correspondence analysis, and genetic analyses using four different DNA sequences (COI, 16S, 28S). Second, it turned out that the type material of L. calida contains two morphologically distinct groups of specimens. The holotype and 7 paratypes are similar to each other but differ significantly from the other also similar 16 paratypes, and from all European specimens. On the basis of these observations, the Laonome specimens from European waters are described here as L. xeprovala sp. nov. We also provide the characters of the branchial crown of three Laonome species for a prospective revision of this genus.

Shells inhabited by hermit crabs are unique microhabitats with an abundant epi- and endofauna. Using polychaetes as an example, communities associated with the whelk Stramonita haemastoma, the hermit crabs Clibanarius erythropus and Calcinus tubularis, as well as empty, damaged shells were investigated. No polychaete community was associated with live S. haemastoma: only 30% of the investigated gastropods harboured polychaetes. Hermit crab-occupied shells supported polychaete communities dominated by Spirorbidae in the case of Clibanarius erythropus and by small Sabellidae, Spirobranchus polytrema and Dipolydora armata in Calcinus tubularis. The polychaete fauna associated with empty shells was similar to that on shells previously inhabited by one of the hermit crab species but different from those of the surrounding hard bottom. The reproductive strategy of the some polychaetes species is adapted to life on this small-sized habitat.