taxonID	type	description	language	source
03F5878E7A6C586FBCCAFB7923419D4C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. (after Blake et al. 2020): Prostomium entire or incised anteriorly, extending posteriorly as caruncle; eyespots present or absent. Setiger 1 with notosetae. Setiger 5 modified, with major spines of one type, with or without accompanying companion setae; spines arranged in single curved row; spines simple, falcate, with lateral flanges, teeth, and / or apical bristles, with superior notosetae dorsal to modified spines and companion setae. Posterior notopodial spines present or absent. Neuropodial hooded hooks bidentate, usually with recurved shaft without constriction or manubrium, main fang forming wide angle with shaft and narrow, acute angle with apical tooth; hooks first present from setigers 7 to 17. Pygidium disc-like, cuff-shaped, with 2, 3, or 4 lobes of various forms, or with four or more small papillae. Anterior part of digestive tract sometimes with enlarged, thick, gizzard-like structure.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6C586FBCCAFB7923419D4C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The genus Dipolydora Verrill, 1881 was revalidated and redescribed by Blake (1996), thus subdividing the formerly large genus Polydora into two genera. Dipolydora differs from Polydora in having notosetae on setiger 1 rather than lacking them; bidentate hooded hooks with a recurved shaft without a constriction or manubrium and with the main fang forming a wide angle with the shaft and a narrow, acute angle with the apical tooth rather than a distinct constriction on the shaft and with the apical tooth closely applied to the main fang. The pygidial morphology is variable rather than simple; and some Dipolydora species have a gizzard-like structure in the digestive tract, which Polydora species lack. To date, approximately 47 species of Dipolydora are recorded (Read & Fauchald 2024 a), including several that are poorly known and require study. In the present study, a new species of Dipolydora has been discovered as a borer in shells of the gastropod, Kanoia meroglypta from deep-water methane seep habitats in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	description	urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: D 61 C 1 B 6 E- 9 D 60 - 4 FCF-B 7 F 8 - B 5 FE 2 FAA 007 A Figures 1 – 2	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Gulf of Mexico, off Louisiana, continental slope, BOEM Green Canyon Lease Block 234, HOV Johnson Sea Link Dive 2059, June 1987, coll. WR Callender; worms removed from burrows in the columella of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta collected from the mussel bed with a scoop sampler, 27.733 ° N, 91.253 ° W, 617 m, holotype (FMNH 223654), 1 paratype (MCZ IZ 173000).	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	description	Description. Body elongate, slightly wider anteriorly; holotype complete with 60 setigers, 8.4 mm long and 0.7 mm wide anteriorly, 0.4 mm wide posteriorly; paratype larger, also complete but damaged and not as well preserved, with 85 setigers, 17 mm long, 0.8 mm wide anteriorly, 0.5 mm wide posteriorly. Color in alcohol: light tan; only pigment from two large, curved reddish-colored peristomial glands lateral to oral vestibule. Prostomium narrow, distinctly rounded on anterior margin (Figs. 1 A, 2 B – C), posteriorly extending to anterior border of setiger 1 as a caruncle (Fig. 1 A); occipital antenna absent; eyes absent. Palps thick, relatively short when preserved, only about as long as first 4 – 5 setigers (Fig. 2 A); each palp with narrow ventral groove lined with short cilia; cilia not observed on dorsal surface. Peristomium wide and long, rounded anteriorly and laterally (Fig. 1 A), interrupted dorsally by caruncle (Fig. 1 A) and ventrally by oral vestibule (Fig. 2 C). Setiger 1 with capillary setae and postsetal lamellae in both rami; lamellae short, rounded on setigers 1 – 4 (Fig. 1 A); notosetae of setiger 1 shorter, fewer (4 – 5) than on setigers 2 – 5 (8 – 10); neurosetae of setiger 1 as long those on setiger 2, but fewer (6 – 8) than on setigers 2 – 4 (8 – 10). Posterior to setiger 5, notopodia with a row of 8 – 10 moderately long capillaries continuing posteriorly; these replaced in last 11 – 12 setigers by 6 – 8 long, narrow acicular spines arranged in a rosette and producing a distinct spinous appearance to the posterior end of body (Fig. 1 B). Each spine narrowing to pointed tip (Figs. 1 I, 2 G – H). Setiger 5 twice as large as setigers 4 and 6, with 5 – 6 dorsal superior capillaries, six large falcate spines arranged in an oblique row, and 7 – 8 capillaries ventral to major spines (Fig. 1 A); companion setae absent between falcate spines. Dorsal superior and ventral capillaries geniculate, winged with crest of short fibrils along one edge (Fig. 1 F); these capillaries shorter and fewer than on setigers 4 and 6. Distal convex sides of falcate spines surmounted by a distinct dorsal crest formed by numerous fibrils (Figs. 1 C – E, 2 E). Hooded hooks in neuropodia from setiger 7, up to 6 – 8 in a row, accompanied by 1 – 3 inferior winged capillaries. Hooks bidentate, with slightly recurved shaft without constriction and with wide angle between shaft and main fang in hooks from anterior and middle segments (Fig. 1 G – H); posterior hooks with more acute angle between teeth (Fig. 2 F). Branchiae from setiger 7, full-sized from setiger 8 (Fig. 1 A), absent from posterior setigers from about setiger 30 in holotype and setiger 40 in paratype, or about mid-body; branchiae arising from base of notopodial postsetal lamellae, flattened, directed toward dorsal midline, but not reaching entirely across dorsum (Fig. 1 A); each branchia broad, with distinct blood loop (Fig. 1 A). Pygidium with four large lobes (Figs. 1 B, 2 D), surface covered with numerous papillae; a rounded medial lobe also present between the dorsal lobes, dorsal to anal opening (Fig. 1 B). Due to opaque nature of body, internal morphology not visible; thus neuropodial glandular pouches, nephridia, and digestive system not observed. Methyl green staining. Anterior ventral and lateral border of anterior setigers retaining stain; rest of body with no staining reaction.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Dipolydora walkerae sp. nov. belongs to a group of species having the modified spines of setiger 5 with an apical cloak or crest of fibrils and acicular spines in posterior notopodia (Blake 1996). In D. walkerae sp. nov., the posterior acicular spines are uniquely arranged in a rosette and provide a spinous appearance to the posterior end of the body. Only two other species of Dipolydora have a similar configuration: D. armata (Langerhans, 1880) and D. paracaulleryi Meissner, Bick, Guggolz & Götting, 2014. Dipolydora armata is a widespread shallow-water tropical and sub-tropical coralline boring species (Woodwick 1964; Blake & Kudenov 1978; Blake 1983, 1996; Radashevsky & Nogueira 2003). Dipolydora walkerae sp. nov. differs from D. armata in that the major spines of setiger 5 have a shaft that curves apically to a narrowly pointed tip that is surmounted by a distinct crest formed of bristles or fibrils; the posterior notopodial spines are narrow with a pointed tip and the pygidium has four large papillated lobes and a fifth medial dorsal lobe. In contrast, D. armata has major spines with a main fang, a large lateral tooth and wide cowling or third tooth, all of which are covered with a cloak of bristles, the posterior spines that form the rosette are thick and awl-shaped, and the pygidium is a simple cup that opens dorsally. Dipolydora paracaulleryi is known from the Meteor Seamounts west of the Canary Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, dredged from coral and crushed shell gravel at a depth of 300 m (Meissner et al., 2014). This species is similar to D. walkerae sp. nov. in having curved major spines on setiger 5 with pointed tips surmounted by a bristled crest and with a narrow prostomium, but this is weakly incised on the anterior end rather than entire. In addition, the prostomium of D. paracaulleryi continues posteriorly as a caruncle over setigers 1 – 2 instead of bluntly ending anterior to setiger 1 as in D. walkerae sp. nov. Ventrally, the peristomium of D. paracaulleryi continues posteriorly over several anterior setigers as a ventral ridge whereas a posterior extension is absent in D. walkerae sp. nov. Both species have four pygidial lobes, but these are distinctly unequal in D. paracaulleryi with the dorsal lobes being smaller; whereas in D. walkerae sp. nov. all four lobes are of an equivalent size and there is, in addition, a fifth medial lobe dorsal to the anal opening. While the posterior notopodial spines of D. walkerae sp. nov. form a rosette, these are few in D. paracaulleryi and are arranged in a curved row. Dipolydora paracaulleryi also has a distinctive methyl green staining pattern on the venter of setigers 6 – 7 where stained glands are concentrated medially from which a pair of bands extends laterally.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	biology_ecology	Biology. Dipolydora walkerae sp. nov. was found boring in the shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta collected from mussel beds in methane seep habitats off Louisiana at an upper continental slope depth of 617 m. MacDonald et al. (1990 a: fig. 4) and (1990 b: fig. 2 A) illustrated mussels with attached specimens of the gastropod K. meroglypta on their shells. The mussels were likely Gigantidas childressi (Gustafson, Turner, Lutz & Vrijenhoek, 1998), originally described in the genus Bathymodiolus. In a letter to the author dated 05 June 1992 regarding the availability of the worms described here that were collected in June 1987, Dr. Sally E. Walker stated that “ the spionid is large in comparison to the living snail. It has burrowed through the protoconch, then, through the columella and umbilicus. ” Warén & Bouchet (2001: 133) later stated “ Several specimens (of Kanoia meroglypta; then in the genus Cataegis) from the Bush Hill Seep (off Louisiana) had the shell tunneled by polychaetes of the subfamily Polydorinae, in one case so wide a tunnel that both the in and outside of the shell had been broken through. Usually the tubes were restricted to the umbilicus of the shell. ” These observations suggest that D. walkerae sp. nov. is likely widespread in upper slope depths across the northern Gulf of Mexico where the gastropod, K. meroglypta is present. The degree of infestation of D. walkerae sp. nov. on these gastropods and other molluscs is unknown. Fragmented egg capsules were present with yellow eggs and early 4 - cell cleavage stages; eggs measured 138 – 143 µm in diameter. Although the capsules are broken into separate pieces, they appear to have an elongate tubular shape rather than as strings of beads; attachment threads were not evident.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	etymology	Etymology. This species is named for Dr. Sally E. Walker, Professor of Paleontology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA. Dr. Walker initially discovered and removed these worms from their burrows and identified them as spionids. Having known Dr. Walker from her student days, she notified me of their availability.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
03F5878E7A6F586BBCCAFF6823399CA4.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Gulf of Mexico, off Louisiana, in deep-water methane seep habitats, a borer in shells of the gastropod, Kanoia meroglypta, 617 m.	en	Blake, James A. (2025): A New Species of Dipolydora (Annelida, Spionidae) from deep-water methane seep habitats off Louisiana (Gulf of Mexico), a borer in shells of the gastropod Kanoia meroglypta. Zootaxa 5679 (1): 74-82, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5679.1.3
