Bispira serrata Capa, 2008

Capa, María & Murray, Anna, 2015, A taxonomic guide to the fanworms (Sabellidae, Annelida) of Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, including new species and new records, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 98-167 : 106-107

Bispira serrata Capa, 2008

( Fig. 2 J–M)

Bispira serrata Capa, 2008: 314 –317, figs 4 O –W, 5H–L, 7.

Material examined. Queensland, Lizard Island: AM W.36979 (2), Watson’s Bay, 14°39′26′′S, 145°37′3′′E, coral rubble, 4.5 m, 28 Aug 2010; AM W.45025, MI QLD 2441.

Description of material examined. Specimens up to 55 mm long, 1 mm wide, with eight thoracic and numerous abdominal chaetigers (over 100 in some specimens). Live specimens white with faint purple transverse bands, dark radiolar eyes on radiolar crown and pigmented thoracic chaetigers, more obvious ventrally. Interramal eyespots present on both thoracic and abdominal chaetigers, may be inconspicuous. Pigment turns brown in preserved specimens ( Fig. 2 J–M). Radiolar crown with lobes semicircular or slightly involuted ventrally, several radioles each. Dorsal basal flanges rounded, as long as 1–2 thoracic chaetigers, ventral basal flanges absent. Basal membrane about 1/4 of length of crown, radioles with paired lateral flanges, smooth proximally, serrated distally. Four rows of vacuolated cells supporting radioles basally with additional smaller ones supporting radiolar flanges. Four to eight pairs of compound, ovoid, brown radiolar eyes on radiolar lateral margins ( Fig. 2 J–M). Dorsal lips with long radiolar and one pair of pinnular appendages. Ventral lips and parallel lamellae well developed, large ventral sacs outside radiolar crown ( Fig. 2 L). Posterior peristomial ring collar with margins separated dorsally by a wide gap, deep dorsolateral oblique notches, inflated ventral lappets divided midventrally by a long incision ( Fig.

2L). Thoracic ventral shields separated from neuropodial tori. Collar chaetae, superior elongate narrowly-hooded and inferior spine-like chaetae, arranged in oblique rows. Following chaetigers with conical notopodia with elongate narrowly-hooded superior chaetae and spine-like inferior chaetae. Neuropodia with avicular uncini, with 3–4 rows of teeth above the main fang, occupying half its length, gradually diminishing in size, with well developed breast and short handle. Companion chaetae with dentate appearance on proximal half of hood and distally asymmetrical. Abdominal chaetigers with elevated neuropodia with superior elongate narrowly-hooded and inferior spine-like chaetae. Pre-pygidial abdominal depression absent. Pygidium with median incision, and two subtriangular lateral structures, pygidial eyes absent. Pygidial cirrus absent. Tube made of mud with coloured transverse bands in most specimens, with an inner and outer layer of mucus that gives them a shiny and smooth aspect with many soft branches on the posterior blindly-ending tube.

Remarks. Bispira serrata is characterised by its long and thin body, radioles with serrated flanges and paired compound eyes, and conspicuous fleshy and pigmented ventral lappets. It also differs from other congeners by the presence of thoracic uncini with short handles and with teeth above the main fang decreasing in size distally (instead of being similarly sized), and the chaetal arrangement in abdominal chaetigers, with the inferior row consisting of a few chaetae in a straight line instead of a C-shaped fascicle. Inferior collar chaetae described as broadly-hooded ( Capa 2008) but verified to be as in description above. First record for Lizard Island.

Habitat. Mudflats, sandy sediments and coral rubble in shallow water (0–5 m).

Type locality. Calliope River, Queensland.

Distribution. Australia (Western Australia, Queensland).

Figures

FIGURE 2. A – F. Bispira manicata. A. Live specimen with exposed radiolar crown; B. Detail for paired compound radiolar eyes (arrow); C. Anterior thoracic chaetigers, ventral view; D. Same, dorsal view; E. Detail of thoracic parapodia; F. Detail of abdominal parapodia showing neuropodial chaetae arranged in a C-shaped pattern; G – I. Bispira porifera, live specimens. G. Anterior end, ventral view; H. Same dorsal view, showing the conspicuous spongy cushion-like dorsal structures (arrow); I. Complete specimen, dorsal view; J – M. Bispira serrata, preserved specimen; J. Anterior end ventral view; K. Same, dorsal view, showing well separated dorsal collar margins; L. Detail of base of radiolar crown and collar, with conspicuous ventral sacs located outside of crown; M. Detail of radioles with serrated radiolar flanges and compound paired radiolar eyes (arrow). Photographs by: A – Alexander Semenov; B – F, J – M – Eunice Wong; I – Gary Cranitch.