POLYCHAETE CRYPTOFAUNA FROM RIMS OF SIMILAR INTERTIDAL VERMETID REEFS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF ISRAEL AND IN THE GULF OF ELAT: SEDENTARIA

ABSTRACT The Sedentaria were from two similar habitats in the Gulf of Elat and the Mediterranean coast of Israel. These were porous rocks of Dendropoma spp. tubes encrusted on the seaward margins of intertidal platforms. The Sabellidae and Serpulidae have been treated elsewhere. Eleven remaining families, less abundant, are discussed here: Spionidae, Cirratulidae, Orbiniidae, Opheliidae, Arenicolidae, Capitellidae and Terebellidae (both habitats); Maldanidae and Sabellariidae (Mediterranean habitat); and Scalibregmidae and Chaetopteridae (Gulf of Elat). Of 15 species from the Mediterranean habitat, 12 are new records, while of 11 Gulf of Elat species, eight are new records for the Gulf of Elat and for the Red Sea. Branchiomaldane cf. vincenti, a new record in both habitats, is particularly abundant in the Mediterranean habitat. Mesochaetopterus crypticus n. sp., Ctenodrilus paucidentatus n. sp., and Zeppelina nova n. sp., are described from the Gulf of Elat habitat and Mediomastus cirripes n. sp. from the...