THE DIOPATRA-CHILIENSIS CONFUSION - REDESCRIPTION OF DIOPATRA-CHILIENSIS (POLYCHAETA, ONUPHIDAE) AND IMPLICATED SPECIES

Diopatra chiliensis Quatrefages, 1865 is redescribed based on the pres umed holotype and numerous specimens from Coronel, Chile north to Call ao, Peru. The species displays a high degree of variability with respe ct to prostomial appendages, parapodial structures and setae. Diopatra rhizoicola Hartmann-Schroder, 1960 and D. heterodentata Hartmann-Schr oder, 1965 from Peru and Chile are considered junior synonyms of D. ch iliensis. FLU available specimens of previous records of D. chiliensis have been re-examined, most of which are referred to the following sp ecies: D. gesae, sp. n., D. kristiani, sp. n., D. obliqua Hartman, 194 4 D. rhizophorae Grube, 1856, and D. sugokai Izuka, 1907. Diopatra bil obata Imajima, 1967 was found to be a junior synonym of D. sugokai, wi dely distributed Indo-Pacific species. The six species are described a nd illustrated, and their characteristics are compared in tabular form . A revised onuphid terminology of prostomial and parapodial features is also provided. (C) 1998 The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letter s.