Notomastus bermejoi, a new species of Capitellidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from the Gulf of California, with morphological remarks on species with hooks in thoracic chaetigers

Notomastus bermejoi sp. nov. from the Gulf of California shelf is described, illustrated, and compared with its congeners bearing hooded hooks in thoracic chaetigers. This new species is characterized by the presence of a prostomial palpode, only notopodia in the first chaetiger, hooded hooks in neuropodia of chaetiger 11, and its distinct methyl green staining pattern consisting of: chaetigers 1-4 slightly stained, chaetigers 5-10 with green bands encircling the segments, and a darker, solid, green band encircling the body in chaetigers 11-12. It is mainly distributed in the central Gulf of California in fine sand bottoms (62-96%) at 32-106.4 m depth, tolerating a wide range of temperature (13.2-17.59 degrees C), dissolved oxygen (0.8-4.93 ml/L), and organic carbon (3.0-7.2%). The type material and original descriptions of Notomastus species with hooks in thoracic chaetigers were examined; an identification key and tables with morphological distinctive characteristics, methyl green staining patterns, and geographic distribution of these close species are provided.