OLAVIUS NICOLAE, A NEW GUTLESS MARINE TUBIFICID SPECIES (OLIGOCHAETA)FROM BELIZE

Olavius nicolae, a new species from shallow water sediments at Carrie Bow Gay, on the barrier reef off Belize in Central America, is describ ed. It belongs to an apomorphic group within the gutless genus Olavius Erseus, 1984, characterized by small, oval atria, large copulatory sa cs, and dorsal spermathecae (the latter located in the middle of segme nt X). It differs from the closely related, Hawaiian species, O. parap ellucidus Erseus & Davis, 1989, by its more slender body form and long er clitellum, its more numerous somatic setae, and the more dorsal pos ition of its spermathecal pores.