The finding of polychaete Laonome calida Capa, 2007 (Annelida: Sabellidae) in the southeast Sea of Azov

Abstract

A new species belonging to the family of Sabellidae, Laonome calida Capa, 2007, was found in southeast Sea of Azov. This is a new species for the fauna of the Sea of Azov. It was recorded in September 2015 in the area of Temryuk Bay at two stations on shell sand at the depth of 5–7 m and at the water salinity of 12.1‰. The species abundance reached 440 ind./m². This species was recently found at many locations in the riverine deltas in the Netherlands. Presumably, the same species penetrated into the Baltic Sea. L. calida could have been transferred into the basin of the Sea of Azov with the vessels proceeding from the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea through the Volga-Baltic Waterway and Volga-Don Canal.