Revision of the genus Leonnates Kinberg, 1866 (Polychaeta : Nereididae), with descriptions and comments on other species described in Leonnates

The genus Leonnates Kinberg, 1866 (Polychaeta: Nereididae) is characterized by the presence of both papillae and paragnaths on the pharynx, and either only spinigers or spinigers and falcigers on the notopodia. Although the i dentity of several Leonnates species is in doubt, no systematic revision of the genus has been undertaken. In this study, we examine the validity of t he following species that have been described as Leonnates or are related t o Leonnates: L. indicus Kinberg, 1866, L. virgatus Grube, 1873, L. pusillus Langerhans, 1880, L. jousseaumei Gravier, 1899, Australonereis ehlersi (Au gener, 1913), L. niestrazi Horst, 1924, L. decipiens Fauvel, 1929, L. insol itus Gravier & Dantan, 1934, L. simplex Monro, 1939, L. persicus Wesenberg- Lund, 1949, Paraleoconnates uschakovi Chlebovitsch & Wu, 1962, L. decipiens var. manilensis Pillai, 1965, L. stephensoni Rullier, 1965, Websterinereis glauca Pettibone, 1971, L. nipponicus Imajima, 1972, L. crinitus Hutchings & Reid, 1991, and L. bolus Hutchings & Reid, 1991. Our examination of avai lable type specimens and additional material shows that L. virgatus and L. jousseaumei are conspecific with L. indicus; L. decipiens var. manilensis i s conspecific with L. decipiens; Leonnates bolus belongs to Paraleonnates; Leonnates niestraszi, and L. insolitus, described from heteronereidid speci mens, can not be fully characterized. Leonnates nipponicus was not availabl e for examination; its original description indicates a distinct difference from L. indicus. Characters of A. ehlersi, originally described in the sub genus Leonnates in Nereis, are discussed. Leonnates pusillus is indetermina ble to genus. Some specimens originally identified as L. jousseaumei,lei ar e heteronereidids of Perinereis. Descriptions of Leonnates and related spec ies and a key to atokous Leonnates species are provided.