'Lydamas Edgar'... New Marine Worms Discovered on Kuwait's Shores

- Manal Al-Kandari to “Al-Rai”: The discovery holds important information about the richness of Kuwait’s marine environment and its natural history

- Worms contribute to sediment movement and the recycling of organic matter in coastal environments

Following the discovery of independent species of mollusks along Kuwait’s coasts, a research team from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research has recorded a new discovery in the world of marine worms. After subjecting samples to examination under both light and electron microscopes, the team proceeded to analyze their DNA.

Dr. Manal Al-Kandari, head of the research team, announced to “Al-Rai” that through DNA analysis of samples from spiny worms, a new and distinct species was identified and named “Leodamas edgari.”

Al-Kandari emphasized that this discovery provides important insights into the richness of Kuwait’s marine environment and its natural history, noting that these small marine worms live hidden among sandy and muddy sediments in intertidal zones.

She considered these organisms an important part of the marine ecosystem, playing fundamental ecological roles on the seabed by contributing to sediment movement and the recycling of organic matter, while also forming part of the food web in coastal environments.

Al-Kandari stated that distinguishing between marine worm species is not straightforward due to the significant morphological similarities among many of them. She explained that previously, similar samples from the region had been classified under the scientific name “Leodamas chevalieri,” a species first described in Senegal in 1902. Its name was subsequently used to record similar worms in several marine areas, including the Arabian Gulf.

“This is a normal occurrence in taxonomy; when an organism’s appearance is very close to a known species, it is initially classified under the closest available name in taxonomic references. However, when comparing the Kuwaiti samples with the original description and classification of samples from Senegal, subtle differences emerged that raised doubts about their belonging to the same species.”

She noted that the team began a deeper and more detailed study of the samples to verify the actual distribution of this species in the Arab region, conducting comparisons with samples from Oman and Senegal.

Al-Kandari concluded that “the results were clear: the Kuwaiti samples do not belong to the original species recorded in Senegal, but rather represent a new and distinct species. Hence, the new species was named Leodamas edgari.”