Peanut worms of the phylum Sipuncula from the Sea of Japan with a key to species

Sipunculan worms from the Russian waters of the Sea of Japan are still poorly investigated while they are much better known from the Japanese coast. The aim of this paper is to describe sipunculans from the Russian coast and from the deepest part of the Sea of Japan near the Primorye Province collected by SoJaBio expedition, and to provide keys for identification of sipunculan species from the Sea of Japan. At the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan only 8 valid species of sipunculans were found and identified: Golfingia margaritacea, G. vulgaris, Nephasoma capilleforme, N. wodjanizkii, Phascolion strombus, Thysanocardia nigra, Themiste hexadactyla (=T. pyroides), Phascolosoma agassizii. Taking into account 4 other valid species noted for this area, Nephasoma eremite, Thysanocardia catharinae, Themiste blanda and Phascolosoma scolops, which were not found, the sipunculan fauna of the Russian waters of the Sea of Japan now comprises 12 valid species. Nephasoma capilleforme and Nephasoma wodjanizkii are the first records for the North-West Pacific and the Sea of Japan. Species accounts include the most important taxonomic characters and specific biotope data. Accordingly, a key up to species level is provided. Totally, the fauna of the Sea of Japan is now estimated as having 31 valid species of sipunculans.