Polycirrus aurantiacus Grube, 1860

Glasby, Christopher J. & Hutchings, Pat, 2014, Revision of the taxonomy of Polycirrus Grube, 1850 (Annelida: Terebellida: Polycirridae), Zootaxa 3877 (1), pp. 1-117 : 26

Polycirrus aurantiacus Grube, 1860

Fig. 9a–f

Polycirrus aurantiacus Grube, 1860: 110–112 , pl. 4, fig. 8.

Apneumea aurantiaca .— Quatrefages, 1865: 383.

Type locality. Croatia, Adriatic Sea .

Material examined. SYNTYPES: 2, ZMB Q4999 , Croatia, Adriatic Sea : Cherso (now Cres), 44º54′ N, 14º25′ E, coll. Grube ; SYNTYPES: several, MPW 342, Cherso. SYNTYPE: SMNH 985 , Croatia, Meddelhavet Lussin (now Lošinj), 44º32′ N, 14º28′ E .

Description. Description based on ZMB Q4999, both well-preserved specimens with body wall intact and chaetae mainly intact, pale cream to yellowish brown in colour, both female, larger one 30 mm long and 2 mm wide excluding buccal tentacles, complete with about 70 segments, smaller one 20 mm long and 2 mm wide excluding buccal segments, complete with about 60 segments. SMNH 985 an anterior fragment of tentacles and about 10 segments, 40 mm long and 4 mm wide, not well preserved, posterior fragment 30 mm long and 1.5 mm wide for about 50 segments. MPW 342 contains a large number of poorly preserved individuals, mainly buccal tentacles and few posterior fragments, one posteriorly incomplete individual 35 mm long and 3 mm wide for about 50 segments (one of these is figured in Fig. 9a , as it most clearly showed the structure of the upper lip).

Dorsum anteriorly tessellated. Anterior venter with mid-ventral groove from segment 4 ( Fig. 9a ) and discrete ventro-lateral pads; pads more-or-less smooth, extending from segment 3 to 12.

Buccal tentacles numerous, of two types: (1) cylindrical, thickened distally, distinctly grooved and (2) cylindrical, uniformly thin, weakly grooved; both types arising at junction between prostomium and upper lip. Prostomial ridge distinctly curved, extending along anterodorsal base of upper lip. Upper lip trefoiled with lateral blindly ending enclosed diverticulae, margin of medial lobe convoluted; oral surface glandular, ciliated, with grooves leading to mouth. Inner lower lip oblong, smooth; outer region flat, shield-like, oblong, longer than wide, ridged and grooved, extending posteriorly to segment 4. Achaetous segments visible dorsally but obscured by expanded outer lower lip ventrally.

Notochaetigerous segments 46, extending to segment 48 (approximately). Notopodia short and more-or-less rectangular, prechaetal lobe low, postchaetal lobe digitiform, longer than prechaetal ( Fig. 9b ). Notochaetae of one type (chaetigers 4, 21 examined), two distinct lengths, smooth with narrow striated wings, uniformly tapered ( Fig. 9c ). Neurochaetae beginning on segment 14. Neuropodial tori ridge like, similar along body. Uncini with short neck and straight to convex base (Type 1), teeth above main fang arranged in single transverse series or arranged in double transverse series (MF:1:0–6) enlarged median tooth above main fang present, subrostral process present as low, rounded protuberance ( Fig. 9d–f ).

Nephridial papillae present, cylindrical. Pre-gular membrane nephridial papillae present on segments 3, 4. Post-gular membrane nephridial papillae present, on segments 5–9; situated at ventral base of notopodia. Pygidium simple rosette.

Comments. It appears that Grube deposited syntype material of P. aurantiacus in three different museums; all of the syntype material examined is clearly labelled as types having been identified by Grube. As all specimens are conspecific and all were collected from the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago in the northern Adriatic, there appears to be nothing to be gained from designating a lectotype.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Polycirrus auranticus Grube. Syntype MPW 342. a. Anterior ventral view. Syntype ZMB Q4999, b–f, b. Right side anterior lateral view of notopodium, chaetiger 4. c. Notochaetae from chaetiger 4, short type (illustrated at x40 and x100) and long type (x40 only); d. Lateral and frontal views of uncinus from chaetiger 12. e. Lateral view of uncinus from chaetiger 21. f. Lateral view and frontal view of uncinus from posterior chaetiger.