Syllis augeneri Haswell, 1920

Aguado, Teresa, Martín, Guillermo San & Ten, Harry A., 2008, Syllidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Indonesia collected by the Siboga (1899 – 1900) and Snellius II (1984) expeditions, Zootaxa 1673, pp. 1-48 : 21-22

Syllis augeneri Haswell, 1920

Fig. 8

Syllis (Typosyllis) augeneri Haswell, 1920: 98 –99, pl. 11, figs 19–22

Material examined. 1 syntype AM W 505, Australia, New South Wales, Port Jackson, 33º51’S 151º16’E; 1 spec. ZMA V.Pol. 2019.05 (ex ZMA V.Pol. 2019.04 as Syllis variegata ), Indonesia, Irian Jaya, Aru Isl., Pearl Banks, anchorage off Pulu Jedan, trawl, dredge and divers, sand and shells, 13m, Siboga Expedition, Sta. 273, 23/ 26 Dec. 1899.

Comparative material examined. Syllis armillaris . Several spec. MNCN 16.01/7906-07, Spain, Almería, Cabo de Gata, 2 m, 36º46’49.11’’N 2º14’25.31’’W, Jan. 1987. (Identified by San Martín, 2003).

Description. Incomplete specimen, 7 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, with 43 segments. Prostomium wider than long, with two pairs of eyes in trapezoidal arrangement, posterior ones slightly larger than anterior, two eyespots located anteriorly ( Fig. 8 A). Median antenna lost, insertion mark on middle of prostomium; short lateral antennae inserted on anterior margin of prostomium, shorter than combined length of prostomium and palps, with 9–11 articles. Palps broad, triangular, slightly longer than prostomium, fused at base, with distinct median groove. Peristomium similar in length to subsequent segments, with two pairs of tentacular cirri ( Fig. 8 A). Dorsal tentacular cirri longer than lateral antennae, with 11–12 articles, ventral ones with 10–11 articles. Pre- and postchaetal lobes present in all parapodia, both similar in length ( Fig. 8 I). Dorsal cirri short, with 12– 13 articles, dorsal cirri of first chaetiger slightly longer, with 18 articles. Ventral cirri digitiform, inserted proximally, not extending beyond parapodial lobes ( Fig. 8 I). Anterior parapodia each with 10–15 compound, heterogomph chaetae, distal part of shafts provided with spines, bidentate blades, four most dorsal blades longer (ca. 26–28 µm), remaining shorter (ca. 15 µm), distal tip of blades curved, with distal tooth longer than proximal one and spines on edge ( Fig. 8 C). Midbody chaetigers with 9–10 compound chaetae, bidentate blades slightly shorter than those of anterior parapodia, two dorsal-most blades longer (ca. 27.2 µm), remaining gradually decreasing in length (ca. 18–12 µm) ( Fig. 8 D). Posterior chaetigers with six compound bidentate chaetae, decreasing in length (ca. 26 µm dorsal-most, ca. 12 µm ventral-most), similar in shape to anterior ones ( Fig. 8 H). Posterior chaetigers with one dorsal simple chaetae unidentate with large spine located laterally ( Fig. 8 G), and one bidentate ventral simple chaeta with spines on margin ( Fig. 8 F). Two acuminate aciculae per parapodium, one of them slightly protruding ( Figs 8 B, E). Pygidium lost. Pharynx long, extending through 11 segments; conical tooth on anterior margin. Proventricle extending through eight segments, with 27 cellrows and one median longitudinal line ( Fig. 8 A). Male stolon in development.

Remarks. Syllis augeneri was described from Port Jackson, Australia and was synonymized by Licher (1999) with Syllis armillaris , a cosmopolitan species (although probably a complex of different species). After studying the syntype and material from Indonesia, we are of the opinion that there are enough differences to maintain S. augeneri as a valid species. Dorsal cirri are similar in length and shape to those of S. armillaris , but the distal end of the chaetae, with both teeth markedly curved, the long spines and the bilobed parapodia are distinctly different.

Distribution: Australia (New South Wales), Indonesia.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Syllis augeneri ZMA V. Pol. 2019.05. A: Anterior part, dorsal view; B: Anterior aciculae; C: Anterior chaetae; D: Midbody chaetae; E: Posterior aciculae; F: Ventral simple chaetae; G: Dorsal simple chaeta; H: Posterior chaetae; I: Midbody parapodium, anterior view. Scale A: 0.4 mm; B – H: 20 µm; I: 1 mm.