Revision of the species of Megalomma (Polychaeta: Sabellidae) from the Mediterranean Sea, with the description of M. messapicum n. sp

Mediterranean sabellid material preserved in the private collection of the Zoological Laboratory of Salento University has been examined in order to revise species of Megalomma genus (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellinae) present in the Mediterranean Sea. The description of the new species M. messapicum n.sp. from the Southern coast of the Adriatic Sea, together with the re-description of M. claparedei (Gravier, 1908), a probable lessepsian migrant, are given. The distribution of M. vesiculosum (Montagu, 1815), previously reported for the Mediterranean area is discussed at the light of re-examination of specimens preserved at the Zoological Museum of Berlin (ZMB): Branchiomma vesiculosum var. neapolitana Claparde, 1868; Branchiomma kollikeri Claparde, 1868; and Sabella lanigera Grube, 1846. All the examined taxa are proved to be the same species belonging to Megalomma genus, but differing from M. vesiculosum in some features such as the collar shape and the handle length of thoracic uncini. Megalomma lanigera (Grube, 1846) was the name maintained for the Mediterranean taxon, and B. kollikeri was confirmed as junior synonym of this species. All the examined M. vesiculosum material coming from Mediterranean soft-bottoms, and preserved in the Authors' collection revealed to be M. lanigera. Lastly the presence of M. vigilans is also discussed