Serpulidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Hong Kong

Serpulidae (Sabellida, Annelida) is a large group of sedentary polychaetes that live in the calcareous tubes they secrete. In addition to being an important component of marine hard-bottom benthic communities, serpulids include several economically important invasive and/or fouling species. In this paper we describe the serpulids from Hong Kong, based on specimens collected from a coral community, a fish farm, a public pier and a shipping channel. Seventeen serpulid taxa belonging to five genera are recorded. The most diverse genus in the present material is Hydroides (9 species), followed by Spirobranchus (5 taxa). The highest diversity (13 taxa) is found on dead coral skeleton. One species, Spirobranchus tetraceros, is associated with live corals in high density. For each taxon, the habitat, distribution and morphological features are described. Including literature records, 20 taxa of serpulids have been reported from Hong Kong. An identification key to all these recorded taxa is provided.