Monophyly revisited: Magelona vs. Maea (Annelida, Polychaeta, Magelonidae)

As part of their most recent comprehensive review of the systematics of Magelonidae Cunningham & Ramage, 1888, Mortimer et al. (2026) reinstate Maea Johnston, 1865, to highlight several characters among members of 15 species previously placed under Magelona Müller, 1858, sensu Mortimer et al. (2021) and Fitzhugh et al. (2024). Though not acknowledged by Mortimer et al. (2026), the previously monophyletic Magelona is made paraphyletic relative to Maea . The consequences for defining Magelonidae and Magelona are discussed, with the conclusion that Maea should once again be a synonym of Magelona .