Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2006
In the present study 23 species of paraonids from western Mexico collected from the intertidal zone to the continental shelf of Baja California Sur, Guaymas, Sonora, and Petacalco, Guerrero are reported. Eight of these species are first recorded from the Mexican coast: Aricidea (Acmira) assimilis, Aricidea (Acmira) catherinae, Aricidea (Allia) ramosa, Aricidea (Aricidea) longicirrata, Aricidea (Aricidea) minima, and Levinseniaoligobranchiata; Aricidea (Aricidea) minuta and Cirrophorusarmatus are cited for first time from the Pacific. Two new species are described. Aricidea (Aricidea) petacalcoensis sp. nov. has bifurcate antenna on prostomium without nuchal grooves, tapering branchiae in chaetigers 4–13, modified neuropodial chaetae from chaetiger 21. Cirrophorus magdalenaensis sp. nov. has prostomium without antennae, eyes or nuchal grooves, banchiae from chaetiger 5, having ten pairs, notopodial modified chaetae bayonet-shaped.