Platynereis

Read, Geoffrey B., 2007, Taxonomy of sympatric New Zealand species of Platynereis, with description of three new species additional to P. australis (Schmarda) (Annelida: Polychaeta: Nereididae), Zootaxa 1558, pp. 1-28 : 4

Key to Platynereis heteronereids of New Zealand coasts

1. Pygidium bearing a rosette, fan, or semicircle of papillae, dorsal cirri papillated in natatory region, and sperm present in coelom .................................................................................................................2 (Males)

– Pygidium unmetamorphosed, dorsal cirri smooth in natatory region, and eggs present in coelom .............. .................................................................................................................................................... 5 (Females)

2. Pre-natatory segments total 14..................................................................................................................... 3

– Pre-natatory segments total 18 or more ....................................................................................................... 4

3. Pygidium with a fan of 8 papillae, a posterior middorsal line of papillae absent (Fig. 2B).......................... ........................................................................................................................ Platynereis kau sp. nov. male

– Pygidium with a semicircle of 12 (11–13) blunt papillae, a posterior mid dorsal line of papillae present (Figs. 4D,E) ............................................................................................... Platynereis karaka sp. nov. male

4. Pre-natatory segments total 18 (17–18), pygidium a fan of 8 papillae (Fig. 2B) .......................................... ............................................................................................................... Platynereis mahanga sp. nov. male

– Pre-natatory segments total 27 (26–29), pygidium a three-part rosette (Fig. 1N)......................................... ............................................................................................................................. Platynereis australis male

5. Posterior unmodified segments present ....................................................................................................... 6

– Posterior unmodified segments absent, or segments transitional ................................................................ 7

6. Pre-natatory segments total 33 (31–36), first 6 (5–7) dorsal cirri enlarged, white eggs ............................... .......................................................................................................................... Platynereis australis female

– Pre-natatory segments total 24 (22–25), first 5 (5–7) dorsal cirri enlarged, blue eggs ................................. ............................................................................................................ Platynereis mahanga sp. nov. female

7. Pre-natatory segments total 18, first 7 (6–7) dorsal cirri enlarged, white eggs ............................................. ..................................................................................................................... Platynereis kau sp. nov. female

– Pre-natatory segments total 17, first 5 dorsal cirri enlarged, pale blue eggs ................................................. ............................................................................................................... Platynereis karaka sp. nov. female