Dear colleagues,
The polychaete genus Hesione includes some of the most spectacular marine errant polychaetes. The delineation of species has included some features like pigmentation patterns (fade off quite soon in alcohol), presence of antennae (their visibility depends on the degree of body contraction or pharynx eversion), fragile parapodial features (relative parapodial cirri length, or acicular lobes), or chaetal attributes (relative length of blades; size of the guard bordering teeth).
More than one species might be included under a single pigmentation pattern as in the Western Atlantic H. picta, H. proctochona, H. margaritae, and H. vittigera, or there can be a single species distributed from Florida to Southern Brazil, with the former name as the oldest one. We really don't know.
Because specimens are rarely abundant (exception: deAssis et al. 2012 Zool. Stud. 51, 762), we have no idea about variation in general, or regarding diagnostic features. Futher, there are no types for 7 out of 16 species and sometimes, the types are damaged, especially regarding parapodia or chaetae. More specimens are clearly needed to clarify these issues, and even for proposing neotypes, if needed.
You probably agree that it would be useful to make a revision of the genus, and to try a molecular evaluation to solve their affinities, at least regarding COI (only available: Ngamniyomm et al. 2014 . Kasetsart J. Nat. Sci. 48, 719), including topotype (or additional) specimens. I plan to spend some time in 2016 studying museum specimens of Hesione, but some of these interesting problems could only be solved by dealing with fresh material. Here is where your help or collaboration will be much appreciated.
I've prepared a guide for descriptions and it's available upon request (no need to reply to Annelida; no need to add my name as coauthor, either). The list of type localities, species, the museums where their types are housed, and if they were originally illustrated is below.
Thanks in advance for your interest. Of course, if you have no time or interest on this type of problem, but have some specimens, they will be welcome, indeed.
Cordially yours,
Sergio
Brazil, Rio de
Janeiro: H. margaritae Hansen, 1882.
No types. Illustrated.
Brazil, Sta.
Catharina: H. picta Müller, 1858. No types. Illustrated.
Djibouti: H.
ehlersi Gravier, 1900. Type MNHN. Illustrated.
Egypt, Gulf of Suez: H. splendida Savigny in
Lamarck, 1818. Syntypes MNHN. Illustrated.
France, Bay of Biscay (Guéthary): H. steenstrupi de Quatrefages, 1866.
Type MNHN. Illustrated.
France, Nice: H.
pantherina Risso, 1826. No type. No illustrations.
Indonesia, Bangka Strait: H. eugeniae Kinberg, 1866. Type SMNH. Illustrated.
Jamaica: H.
proctochona Schmarda, 1861. No type. Illustrated.
Japan, W Enoshima: H. reticulata von Marenzeller, 1879. No type. Illustrated.
Mauritius: H. splendida
Savigny in Lamarck, 1818. Syntypes MNHN.
Illustrated.
Panama, Pacific: H.
panamena Chamberlin, 1919. Type USNM. Illustrated.
Philippines, Zamboanga: H. intertexta Grube, 1878. Type MPW, ZMB. Illustrated.
Samoa: H.
genetta Grube, 1867. No types. No illustrations.
Sri Lanka: H.
ceylonica Grube, 1874. No types. No illustrations.
Tonga: H. pacifica McIntosh, 1885. Type BMNH. Illustrated.
USA, Florida: H.
praetexta Ehlers, 1887 and H.
vittigera Ehlers, 1887. Types MCZ. Illustrated.
