TAXONOMY OF THE CHAETOGNATHS OF THE BIGHT OF PANAMA

Abstract

Confusions arising on the taxonomy of Sagitta pacifica, S. bedoti and S. pulebra are mainly the result of imprecise and subjective descriptions. A new modern account on two of the three spccies as they appeared in plankton samples collected off the Colombian Pacific and the Bight of Panama is provided, including meristic and morphological information. For the third species S. bedoti, only the relevant meristic and morphometric information gathered is included since published accounts are adequate. It is hoped that this work will represent a contribution in future taxonomic and ecological studies on these species.