Tzetlin A.B.1, Shcherbakov D.E.2, Geyer G.3, Zhuravlev A.Yu.2,4 2026. The earliest known freshwater bristle worms (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Middle Triassic Grès à Voltzia Lagerstätte, Vosges, France // Invert. Zool. Vol.23. No.2: 287–303 [in English].
1 Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-12, Moscow 119234 Russia.
2 Borissiak Palaeontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya St. 123, Moscow 117647 Russia.
3 Lehrstuhl für Geodynamik und Geomaterialforschung, Institut für Geographie und Geologie, Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
4 Department of Biological Evolution, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-12, Moscow 119234 Russia.
* Corresponding author: atzetlin@gmail.com
Alexander B. Tzetlin: atzetlin@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9158-0810
Dmitry E. Shcherbakov: dshh@narod.ru https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4508-9259
Gerd Geyer: gerd.geyer@uni-wuerzburg.de https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3904-0432
Andrey Yu. Zhuravlev: ayzhur@mail.ru https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1611-6916
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.23.2.06
ABSTRACT: A new minute errant polychaete, Vosgesochaeta grauvogeli gen. et sp.n. is described from Middle Triassic (Anisian) fluvial-lacustrine deposits of the Grès à Voltzia Lagerstätte (Vosges, France). The specimens, preserved as carbonaceous compressions, are characterized by a small body size, well-developed acicula supporting wide, evenly spaced biramous parapodia, eversible stylet-bearing pharynx — likely used for food capture and ingestion, — and a wide, straight alimentary canal showing constrictions but lacking diverticula. Accordingly we suggest it had a crawling lifestyle on soft substrates, combined with a carnivorous or omnivorous feeding mode. In addition, we provide redescriptions and new images for Homaphrodite speciosa Gall et Grauvogel, 1967 (Aphroditiformia) and “Eunicites” triasicus Gall et Grauvogel, 1967 (family and genus uncertain) found in the same deposits. Apart from a single equivocal Carboniferous record, V. grauvogeli gen. et sp.n. and its relatives from the same strata represent the earliest known freshwater polychaetes.
KEY WORDS: polychaetes, Middle Triassic, Vosges, France.