Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) of Cocos Island National Park, Pacific Costa Rica

A comprehensive survey of Cocos Island National Park, Pacific Costa Rica, identified 106 polychaete species, with 103 being new records for the site. This highlights the island's rich but understudied biodiversity, particularly in comparison to the Galápagos Islands. The study suggests limited isolation between Cocos Island and mainland populations, likely due to larval or adult transport mechanisms such as rafting. Only two species had not been previously recorded along the Pacific coastline from Mexico to Chile, underscoring the island's unique but connected fauna.

Dean, H. K., Sibaja-Cordero, J. A., & Cortés, J. (2012). Polychaetes (Annelida: Polychaeta) of Cocos Island National Park, Pacific Costa Rica. Pacific Science, 66(3), 347–386. https://doi.org/10.2984/66.3.8