Neogyptis mediterranea, (PLEIJEL, 1993 a), 2012

Pleijel, Fredrik, Rouse, Greg W., Sundkvist, Tobias & Nygren, Arne, 2012, A partial revision of Gyptis (Gyptini, Ophiodrominae, Hesionidae, Aciculata, Annelida), with descriptions of a new tribe, a new genus and five new species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 165 (3), pp. 471-494 : 489

NEOGYPTIS MEDITERRANEA ( PLEIJEL, 1993a)

COMB. NOV. ( FIG. 12 )

Gyptis mediterranea Pleijel, 1993a: 168–172 , figures 6, 7.

Type material: Holotype ( SMNH 4398 ) and 20 paratypes ( SMNH 4399–4401 ).

Type locality: South France, Banyuls-sur-Mer, 42°29.92′N, 03°09.22′E, 35 m, sandy mud with detritus .

Material examined: FRANCE. Holotype ( SMNH 4398 ), seven paratypes ( SMNH 4399 , 4400 , fixed in formaldehyde) and four spms ( FP collection, fixed in osmium and mounted on stub), Banyuls-sur-mer, 42°30.17′N, 03°09.48′E, 40 m, mud, dredge, colls Andy Mackie and FP 7.x.1991; three paratypes ( NMW.Z. 1992.007.3, fixed in formaldehyde), Banyuls-sur-mer, 42°29.92′N, 03°09.22′E, 35 m, sandy mud with detritus, dredge, colls Andy Mackie and FP 3.x.1991; 13 paratypes ( SMNH 4401 , fixed in formaldehyde), Banyuls-sur-mer, 42°30.00′N, 03°11.75′E, 80 m, mud, dredge, colls Andy Mackie and FP 13.x.1991; six spms ( FP collection, fixed in osmium and mounted on stub), Banyuls-sur-mer, 42°29.55′N, 03°09.90′E, 45 m, mud, dredge, coll. FP 15.v.1997; one spm ( FP collection, fixed in 95% ethanol) Banyuls-sur-mer, 42°29.55′N, 03°09.90′E, 45 m, sandy mud, dredge, colls AN and FP 13.vii.2004. ITALY. One spm ( FP collection, fixed in formaldehyde), east Sicily, Brucoli , 37°17′N, 15°13′E, 60 m, mud, dredge, coll. FP 21.v.1990.

Description: Length up to 7 mm for 32 segments. Live animals transparent; eyes red. Body outline elliptical with median parapodia much longer than anterior and posterior ones. Prostomium rounded rectangular, wider than long, with very small dorsoposterior inci- sion ( Fig. 12A, B ). Palpophores cylindrical, palpostyles thinner, evenly tapering to rounded tips; palpophores and palpostyles of equal length. Paired antennae thinner and slightly shorter than palps, distal-most third forming demarcated tips ( Fig. 12A, B ). Median antenna cylindrical, much shorter than paired antennae and without demarcated tip, inserted on line between anterior pair of eyes. Eyes medium-sized, anterior pair larger and situated further apart. Nuchal organs ciliated bands along lateral sides of prostomium ( Fig. 12B ). Lip pads absent. Proboscis with rugose surface on proximal ring, distal ring smooth, opening with terminal ring of conical papillae, number 20–32 (size-dependent) ( Fig. 12C ). Anterior segmental delineations indistinct, most part of segment 1 dorsally reduced, segment 2 and 3 dorsally fused. Dorsal cirri and cirrophores segment 1–5 much longer and stouter than following ones, dorsal cirri segment 2 longest, reaching about segment 10–12. Ventral cirri segment 1–4 with welldelineated cirrophores and longer and stouter cirri than on following segments. Segment 5 with neuropodial lobes, neurochaetae, and ventral cirri similar to following segments, segment 6 with notopodial lobes and notochaetae. Elevated and slightly stouter dorsal cirri on segment 8, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23. Dorsal cirri reaching about as far as chaetae. Transverse dorsal ridges across segments, higher on median and posterior segments ( Fig. 12D, E ). Notopodial aciculary lobes conical. Notochaetae of three kinds: few dorsally bent aciculary chaetae inserted anterior to other chaetae, large number of capillary chaetae with two alternating rows of teeth, and few, ventrally positioned curved chaetae with conical side subdistally serrated. Prechaetal neuropodial lobes elongated rounded to conical. Twenty to 40 neurochaetae, all unidentate compounds, dorsal and median blades much longer than ventral ones. Usually double noto- and neuroaciculae. Ventral cirri inserted distally near tip of neuropodium, tapering to fine points ( Fig. 12F ). Pygidium with long pygidial cirri, similar in shape to dorsal cirri; pygidial papilla absent.

Biology: Several mature females collected in Banyuls in October, eggs 50–60 Mm in diameter.

Habitat: Mud, 35–80 m.

Distribution: Only known from southern France and the east coast of Sicily.

Figures

Figure 12. Neogyptis mediterranea comb. nov., scanning electron microscopy photographs of specimens from Banyulssur-mer, south France. A, anterior end, anterodorsal view. B, anterior end, left side. C, proboscis opening. D, median parapodium, right side, dorsal view. E, dorsal ridges on median segments, anterodorsal view. F, median parapodium, right side, ventral view. All scale bars = 100 Mm.