A new species of Polydora (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from the Indo-West Pacific and first record of host hermit crab egg predation by a commensal polydorid worm

Abstract

A new spionid polychaete, Polydora robi, is described from intertidal and shallow subtidal areas in the Philippine Islands and Bali, Indonesia. Polydora robi belongs to the Polydora ciliata/websteri species group and is characterized by a rounded prostomium, triangular occipital tentacle, needlelike posterior notosetae, and a pygidium with digitiform composite cirri surrounding the anus. Adults burrow into empty gastropod shells inhabited by hermit crabs. The burrows of the worms typically extend from an external opening in the apex of the shells to an opening in the central body whorls along the columella. The species was found to ingest the fertilized eggs and developing embryos attached to the pleopods of host hermit crabs. The occurrence of egg predation and the symbiotic relationship between polydorids and hermit crabs is discussed. Known egg predators of hermit crabs are reviewed.