Lizardia quasimodo n. sp.

(Figs 30–31)

Type material. Holotype: AM W.45151, MI QLD 2443, complete, in relatively good state of preservation, except for medial damage, 11 mm long, 1 mm wide, in calcareous algae and brown algae at a depth of 14 m.

Description. Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part without eyespots; distal part shelf-like (Fig. 30 A–H). Peristomium forming lips; hood-like upper lip, almost circular, about as wide as long; small, swollen lower lip, restricted to oral area (Fig. 30 A–H). Segments 1–3 with thick and low ventral lobes of uniform length across entire ventrum, originating progressively more laterally; from segment 2, anterior segments markedly inflated dorsally, with dorsal hump on segments 2–3 (Fig. 30 A–H). Branchiae absent. Anterior segments with glandular, rectangular, smooth to slightly corrugated anteriorly mid-ventral shields, on segments 2–11; midventral groove extending posteriorly from segment 12 (Fig. 30 B, D–E). Short and conical notopodia beginning from segment 4, extending for 9 segments, until segment 12; notopodia of first pair slightly shorter and inserted more dorsally than following pairs (Fig. 30 A–H). Anterior notopodia with narrowly-winged notochaetae distally in both rows, wings only present at tips of chaetae (Fig. 30 J–M); posterior notopodia with distally serrated chaetae in both rows, alimbate, with blade at an angle with shaft and with short and rounded teeth in anterior row, and with blade aligned with shaft and long teeth in posterior row (Fig. 31 A–C). Neuropodia present from segment 6, as low ridges throughout (Fig. 30 A–I). Neurochaetae throughout as avicular uncini, arranged in completely separated double rows, beak to beak, from segment 11 until posterior body; uncini throughout with short base, almost inconspicuous dorsal button at base of main fang, and crest with numerous transverse rows of secondary teeth (Fig. 31 D–E). Inconspicuous nephridial and genital papillae. Pygidium smooth (Fig. 30 A–B).

Etymology. This new species is named “ quasimodo ” after the protagonist of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, by Victor Hugo, in reference to the pronounced hump this species has on anterior segments.

Type locality. Off Watson’s Bay, 14°39’41”S, 145°26’27”E, Lizard Island, GBR, Australia.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality.