Ehlersileanira Pettibone, 1970 was proposed to include sigalionids (Annelida, Sigalionidae) with a median antenna with basal auricles and biarticulated style. Sthenelais incisa Grube, 1877 described from Congo is its type species, together with a few junior synonyms, such as Sthenelais simplex Ehlers, 1887 from the Gulf of Mexico, Leanira vulturis Horst, 1917 from Indonesia and Leanira izuenzis Takahashi, 1938 from Japan. However, in a previous study, it was shown that S. incisa , now Ehlersileanira incisa , included valid species that were once considered its junior synonyms, as in the case of S. simplex , which is now considered distinct from E. incisa . Therefore, a re-examination of its junior synonyms is needed to clarify their status. Type material of Leanira vulturis was studied, as well as non-type specimens of the genus from the same region. The main results include the reinstatement of L. vulturis , which is shown to be distinct from but congeneric with E. incisa . Ehlersileanira vulturis n. comb. reinst. differs from E. incisa in having larger auricles and style in the median antenna, middle region segments bearing sinuous elytra, and the tubular nephridia start from segment 25; whereas E. incisa has smaller auricles, style, middle region elytra are uniform, and the tubular nephridia start from segment 9. Two new species of the genus from the Indo-Pacific are also described: Ehlersileanira longistyla n. sp. and Ehlersileanira marinduquensis n. sp. Ehlersileanira longistyla n. sp. can be distinguished from the rest of its congeners in having a long median antennal style, large inner palpal sheaths and the lowest neurochaetae unit with non-canaliculate blades. On the other hand, E. marinduquensis n. sp. resembles E. vulturis , but can be recognized by the former’s robust body shape, small style, and tentacular cirri and neurochaetal blades. A key to all Ehlersileanira species is also included.
Cruz-Gómez et al. (Mon,) studied this question.