Biodiversity of Polychaeta (Annelida) in Mexico

Abstract

The Mexican polychaete fauna contains 1 500 polychaete species in 63 families and 460 genera. The families with more species are Nereididae (89), Syllidae (83), Sabellidae (80), Spionidae and Terebellidae (77 each), Eunicidae (76), Onuphidae and Polynoidae (73 each), and Lumbrineridae and Serpulidae (68 each). There are 3 collections with over 600 species from the eastern and western shores, and at least 3 other smaller collections more concentrated on a certain geographic region or environment. At least 13% could be endemic species. Mexico contains 10% of the world's polychaete species.