Caulleriella venefica Doner & Blake 2006: 66–67 Blake & Magalhães 2019: 382–383 New species and records of Caulleriella (Annelida, Cirratulidae) from shelf and slope depths of the Western North Atlantic Ocean Blake, James A. Zootaxa 2021 2021-06-21 4990 2 253 279 RX8G Doner & Blake, 2006 Doner & Blake 2006 [151,672,1626,1653] Polychaeta Cirratulidae Caulleriella Animalia Terebellida 15 268 Annelida species venefica   Figure 8   CaulleriellaB: Maciolek-Blake et al. 1985: B-5.      Caulleriella venefica Doner & Blake 2006: 66–67, Figs. 1, 5B, E;  Blake & Magalhães 2019: 382–383, Fig. 7.3.1.5.17B.   Material examined. (  406 specimens)   Northeastern USA. New York, Atlantic Ocean, off Jones Beach, Long Island, coll. I. P. Williams:  Sta.02-1,  27 Aug 2005, 40°32.8921′N, 73°26.7373′W,  53.6 m(50, MCZ 161685);   Sta.04-1,  27 Aug 2005, 40°32.2574′N, 73°26.2046′W,  61.4 m(11, MCZ 161686);   Sta.11-1,  27 Aug 2005, 40°33.1763′N, 73°25.2151′W,  67.1 m(12, MCZ 161687);   Sta.13-1,  26 Aug 2005, 40°32.0373′N, 73°24.8685′W, 65.0 m (10, MCZ 161688); Sta. 14-1,  27 Aug 2005, 40°32.8649′N, 73°24.6780′W,  57.9 m(27, MCZ 161689);   Sta.18-1,  27 Aug 2005, 40°34.4606′N, 73°20.5860′W,  62.1 m(10, MCZ 161690);   Sta.20-1,  26 Aug 2005, 40°32.5438′N, 73°23.8709′W,  55.7 m(12, MCZ 161691);  Sta.28-1,  26 Aug 2005,  40°33.7790′N, 73°19.4410′W,  62.9 m(16, MCZ 161692);  Sta.29-1,  26 Aug 2005,  40°32.5810′N, 73°22.4412′W, 63.0 m (12, MCZ 161693);  Sta.32-1,  27 Aug 2005,  40°34.0382′N, 73°22.0921′W, 60.0 m (23, MCZ 161694);  Sta.35-1,  26 Aug 2005,  40°32.9924′N, 73°21.5735′W,  62.9 m(10, MCZ 161695);  Sta.37-1,  26 Aug 2005,  40°33.9938′N, 73°21.0607′W,  57.9 m(7, MCZ 161696);  Sta.61-1,  27 Aug 2005,  40°33.3697′N, 73°23.7731′W, 60.0 m (15, MCZ 161697).—  Connecticut, Millstone, Power Plant Effluent, coll. Battellefield team,  Jun 1979,  41°18.48′N, 72°9.96′W,  15–20 min sand: sample 1701 (1, MCZ 161698); 1702 (7, MCZ 161699); 1705 (3, MCZ 161700); 1707 (1, MCZ 161701), 1708 (8, MCZ 1617012); 1709 (3, MCZ 161703).—  Off Massachusetts, Georges Bank, MMS Benthic Infauna Monitoring Program, coll. G.W. Hampson, Chief Scientist:  Sta.2: Cruise M1, Rep4,  Jul 1981,  40°59.0′N, 66°55.8′W,  79 m(5, USNM 1642656); Cruise M2, Rep.6,  14 Nov 1981,  40°59.2′N, 66°55.9′W,  70 m(1, USNM 1642657); Cruise M4, Rep.1,  12 May 1982,  40°59.1′N, 66°55.9′W,  66 m(1, USNM 1642658); Rep.2 (7, USNM 1642659); Rep.3 (3, USNM 1642660); Cruise M6, Rep.1,  22 Nov 1982,  40°59.2′N, 66°55.9′W,  71 m(6, USNM 1642661); Rep.2, (5, 1642662); Cruise M7, Rep.1,  07 Feb 1983,  40°59.2′N, 66°55.9′W,  71 m(1, USNM 1642663); Rep.3, (5, USNM 1642664); Rep.4 (5, USNM 1642665); Rep.5 (2, USNM 1642666); Rep.6 (2, USNM 1642667); Cruise M8, Rep.1,  13 May 1983,  40°59.3′N, 66°55.9′W,  73 m(1, USNM 1642668); Rep.3 (1, USNM 1642669); Cruise M9, Rep.1,  14 Jul 1983,  40°59.2′N, 66°55.8′W,  79 m(2, USNM 1642670); Rep.2 (6, USNM 1642671); Rep.3 (1, USNM 1642672); Rep.4 (3, USNM 1642673); Cruise M10, Rep.1,  15 Nov 1983,  40°59.2′N, 66°55.8′W,  79 m(2, USNM 1642674); Rep.5 (4, USNM 1642675).  Sta.5-1: Cruise M1, Rep.2,  Jul 1981,  40°39.4′N, 67°46.4′W,  81 m(4, USNM 1642676); Rep.3 (3, USNM 1642677); Rep.5 (2, USNM 1642678); Cruise M2, Rep.4,  19 Nov 1981,  40°39.5′N, 67°45.7′W,  81 m(3, USNM 1642679); Cruise M3, Rep.4,  15 Feb. 1982,  40°39.6′N, 67°45.9′W,  81 m(6, USNM 1642680); Cruise M4, Rep.2,  14 May 1982,  40°39.5′N, 67°45.8′W,  80 m(4, USNM 1642681); Rep.3 (12, USNM 1642682); Rep.4 (3, USNM 1642683); Rep.6 (5, USNM 1642684); Cruise M5, Rep.3,  26 Jul 1982,  40°39.5′N, 67°45.9′W,  75 m(3, USNM 1642685); Cruise M7, Rep.2,  10 Feb 1983,  40°39.5′N, 67°45.9′W,  81 m(6, USNM 1642686); Cruise M8, Rep.1,  17 May 1983,  40°39.5′N, 67°45.9′W,  81 m(3, USNM 1642687); Rep.2 (4, USNM 1642688); Rep.4 (5, USNM 1642689); Rep.5 (5, USNM 1642690); Rep.6 (3, USNM 1642691); Cruise M9, Rep.4,  16 Jul 1983,  40°39.5′N, 67°46.2′W,  84 m(7, USNM 1642692); Rep.5 (4, USNM 1642693); Rep.6 (5, USNM 1642694); Cruise M10, Rep.1,  16 Nov 1983,  40°39.5′N, 67°46.2′W,  84 m(11, USNM 1642695); Rep.5 (1, USNM 1642696); Rep.6 (2, USNM 1642697).  Sta.9: Cruise M10, Rep.1,  19 Nov 1983,  40°26.7′N, 68°09.8′W,  144 m(1, USNM 1642698).  Sta.15: Cruise M1, Rep.4,  Jul 1981,  41°27.2′N, 68°00.7′W,  37 m(7, USNM 1642699); Rep.5 (2, USNM 1642700); Rep.6 (4, USNM 1642701); Cruise M2, Rep.1,  15 Nov. 1981,  41°27.4′N, 68°00.5′W,  37 m(1, USNM 1642702); Rep.2 (2, USNM 1642703); Rep.3 (1, USNM 1642704).  Sta.16: Cruise M1, Rep.2,  Jul 1981,  40°34.2′N, 68°012.3′W,  142 m(1, USNM 1642705);  Sta.17: Cruise M8, Rep.3,  16 May 1983,  40°35.0′N, 67°11.3′W,  141 m(1, USNM 1642706).— Specimensfor SEM: Georges Bank Sta.5-28: Cruise M10, Rep.4,  13 Nov. 1983,  40°39.5′N, 67°41.7′W,  84 m(4, USNM 1642707).   Description. A moderately-sized species, 11–15 mmlong, 0.4–0.5 mmwide for 95–105 setigers. Body long, thickened throughout with narrow, crowded segments. Body dorsoventrally flattened with narrow ventral groove; typically coiled in preservation. Longitudinal muscles apparent along medial dorsal surface. Color in alcohol light tan to brown; no obvious pigmentation except dark internal area in prostomium, possibly indistinct nuchal pigmentation. Pre-setiger region as long as first eight setigers. Prostomium unusually long, narrow, tapering to pointed tip ( Fig. 8A–E); eyes absent; nuchal organs elongate lateral slits on posterior lateral margin. Peristomium enlarged, an achaetous single ring with one or two lateral grooves not crossing dorsum; surmounted by prominent dorsal crest extending from posterior margin of prostomium to setiger 1. Dorsal tentacles arising from posterior margin of peristomium; first pair of branchiae located posterior and lateral to tentacles; second pair of branchiae dorsal to notosetae, continuing throughout. Dorsal tentacles thick with ciliated groove; branchiae long, thin.  Parapodiaof anterior setigers reduced to low rounded lobes, becoming low vertical ridges on segments with hooks; noto- and neuropodia widely separated. Notosetae of anterior setigers 4–6 thickened capillaries; bidentate hooks first present from setiger 13–14, with capillaries reduced to a single threadlike seta or entirely absent; up to two hooks per notopodium. Neuropodia with a single bidentate hook from setiger 9–10, increasing to two hooks per fascicle in posterior segments with single threadlike capillary. Hooks of noto- and neuropodia directed toward each other vis-á-vis; hooks with shaft curved on concave side; main fang with apical tooth narrow, short, hood absent ( Fig. 8G–H).   FIGURE 8.  Caulleriella venefica Doner & Blake, 2006. A, Entire worm, coiled; B, anterior end, left lateral view; C, anterior end, left lateral view of another specimen; D, anterior end, ventral view; E, anterior end, frontal view; F, left lateral view of setigers 12–14, noto- and neuropodia with capillaries and hooks evident; G, two neuropodial hooks and one capillary; H, one neuropodial hook and one capillary; I, posterior end, left lateral view. SEMs from three specimens on stub from Georges Bank Sta. 5-28, Cruise M10, Rep. 4, coll. 13 Nov. 1983 (USNM 1642707). Posterior end narrow, tapering; pygidium with two short anal cirri ( Fig. 8A, I).  Methyl Green staining. Body stains uniformly; anterior half of prostomium not staining.   Remarks.  Caulleriella venefica, an offshore shelf species, is most similar locally to  C. nobska  n. sp., a nearshore species. Both species share a pointed prostomium, an elongate peristomium with a dorsal crest, and bidentate hooks that lack a hood or sheath. However, the prostomium of C. veneficais longer, narrower, and more acutely pointed than that of  C. nobska  n. sp.  Caulleriella veneficahas maximally two instead of three hooks in posterior neuropodia and there are two anal cirri instead of none. In addition, the bidentate hooks of  C. veneficahave the main fang at a more acute angle than the 45° angle observed in  C. nobska  n. sp.  Caulleriella veneficahas a single thin capillary seta accompanying the hooks in middle and posterior setigers instead of these being entirely absent in  C. nobska  n. sp.The additional records recorded here suggest that the species is widespread throughout the northeastern United Statesin continental shelf depths having sandy sediments.   Biology and Habitat.On Georges Bank,  Caulleriella veneficainhabits sediments having98–99%sand, consisting of primarily very coarse to medium-sized sand particles (Maciolek et al. 1985). The long pointed prostomium and narrow elongate body suggest that the species is adapted to burrowing through these larger sediment particles. Other specimens examined as part of this study are also from sediments having high sand inventories.   Distribution. Northeastern US continental shelf, 35– 145 m. 3320556380 2005-08-27 MCZ I. P. Williams & Sta. United States of America 54 40.548203 Northeastern 1 -73.445625 15 268 MCZ 161685 1 New York 3320556338 2005-08-27 MCZ United States of America 61 40.537624 Sta. 1 -73.436745 15 268 MCZ 161686 1 New York 3320556317 2005-08-27 MCZ United States of America 67 40.552937 Sta. 1 -73.42025 15 268 MCZ 161687 1 New York 3320556361 [657,1287,1926,1955] 2005-08-26 United States of America 40.533955 Sta. 1 -73.414474 15 268 1 New York 3320556407 2005-08-27 MCZ United States of America 58 40.54775 1 -73.4113 15 268 MCZ 161688, MCZ 161689 1 New York 3320556386 2005-08-27 MCZ United States of America 62 40.574345 Sta. 1 -73.3431 15 268 MCZ 161690 1 New York 3320556308 2005-08-26 MCZ Sta. United States of America 56 16 269 40.542397 Sta. -73.39785 15 268 MCZ 161691 1 New York 3320556368 2005-08-26 MCZ Sta. 63 40.562984 1 -73.32402 16 269 MCZ 161692 1 3320556369 [527,1432,186,215] 2005-08-27 MCZ Sta. 40.54302 1 -73.37402 16 269 MCZ 161693 1 3320556408 [151,1085,222,251] 2005-08-26 MCZ Sta. 40.567303 1 -73.3682 16 269 MCZ 161694 1 3320556399 2005-08-26 MCZ Sta. 63 40.549873 1 -73.35956 16 269 MCZ 161695 1 3320556310 2005-08-27 MCZ Sta. 58 40.566563 1 -73.35101 16 269 MCZ 161696 1 3320556363 1979-06 MCZ Battelle 40.55616 Power Plant Effluent 1 -73.39622 Millstone 16 269 MCZ 161697 1 Connecticut 3320556321 1981-07 MCZ Off 18 41.308 Benthic Infauna Monitoring Program 11 -72.166 Georges Bank 16 269 MCZ 161698, MCZ 161699, MCZ 161700, MCZ 161701, MCZ 1617012, MCZ 161703 1 Massachusetts 3320556414 1981-11-14 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 79 40.983334 115 -66.93 16 269 USNM 1642656 1 Massachusetts 3320556339 1982-05-12 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 70 40.986668 115 -66.93166 16 269 USNM 1642657 1 Massachusetts 3320556419 1982-11-22 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 66 40.985 Rep. 115 -66.93166 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642658, USNM 1642659, USNM 1642660 1 Massachusetts 3320556318 1983-02-07 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 71 40.986668 Rep. 115 -66.93166 16 269 USNM 1642661 1 Massachusetts 3320556319 1983-05-13 USNM Rep. & Cruise M Rep. 71 40.986668 Rep. 115 -66.93166 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642663, USNM 1642664, USNM 1642665, USNM 1642666, USNM 1642667 1 Massachusetts 3320556416 [151,1432,655,683] 1983-07-14 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 73 40.988335 Rep. 115 -66.93166 16 269 USNM 1642668, USNM 1642669 1 Massachusetts 3320556337 1983-11-15 USNM Rep. & Cruise M 79 40.986668 Rep. 115 -66.93 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642670, USNM 1642671, USNM 1642672, USNM 1642673 1 Massachusetts 3320556422 1981-07 USNM 79 40.986668 Rep. 115 -66.93 16 269 USNM 1642674, USNM 1642675 1 Massachusetts 3320556387 1981-11-19 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 81 40.656666 Rep. 116 -67.77333 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642676, USNM 1642677, USNM 1642678 1 Massachusetts 3320556405 1982-02-15 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 81 40.658333 116 -67.761665 16 269 USNM 1642679 1 Massachusetts 3320556372 1982-05-14 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 81 40.66 116 -67.765 16 269 USNM 1642680 1 Massachusetts 3320556403 1982-07-26 USNM Rep. & Cruise M 80 40.658333 Rep. 116 -67.763336 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642681, USNM 1642682, USNM 1642683, USNM 1642684 1 Massachusetts 3320556344 1983-02-10 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 75 40.658333 116 -67.765 16 269 USNM 1642685 1 Massachusetts 3320556415 1983-05-17 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 81 40.658333 116 -67.765 16 269 USNM 1642686 1 Massachusetts 3320556315 1983-07-16 USNM Rep. & Cruise M Rep. 81 40.658333 Rep. 116 -67.765 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642687, USNM 1642688, USNM 1642689, USNM 1642690, USNM 1642691 1 Massachusetts 3320556313 1983-11-16 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 84 40.658333 Rep. 116 -67.77 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642692, USNM 1642693, USNM 1642694 1 Massachusetts 3320556322 1983-11-19 USNM 84 40.658333 Rep. 116 -67.77 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642695, USNM 1642696, USNM 1642697 1 Massachusetts 3320556400 1981-07 USNM 144 40.445 116 -68.16333 16 269 USNM 1642698 1 Massachusetts 3320556373 1981-11-15 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 37 41.453335 Rep. 115 -68.011665 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642699, USNM 1642700, USNM 1642701 1 Massachusetts 3320556334 1981-07 USNM 37 41.456665 Rep. 115 -68.00833 Rep. 16 269 USNM 1642702, USNM 1642703, USNM 1642704 1 Massachusetts 3320556421 [222,1303,1264,1293] 1983-05-16 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 142 40.57 Sta. 116 -68.205 16 269 USNM 1642705 1 Massachusetts 3320556379 1983-11-13 USNM Cruise M & Rep. 141 40.583332 Georges Bank Sta. 116 -67.18833 Specimens 16 269 USNM 1642706 1 Massachusetts 3320556393 [282,842,1336,1364] USNM 84 40.658333 116 -67.695 16 269 USNM 1642707 1 Massachusetts