Floriprotis Uchida, 1978

Ten Hove, Harry A. & Kupriyanova, Elena K., 2009, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta): The state of affairs, Zootaxa 2036, pp. 1-126 : 45-48

13. Floriprotis Uchida, 1978

( Fig. 20)

Type-species: Floriprotis sabiuraensis Uchida, 1978

Number of species: 1

Tube white, opaque, circular in cross-section, normally completely embedded into living corals; granular overlay absent. Operculum and pseudoperculum absent. Radioles arranged (semi-circular to) short pectinately, up to 20 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane present. Stylodes absent. Branchial eyes absent. Mouth palps absent. 7 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar trilobed with entire edge, tonguelets absent. Thoracic membranes long, apron present. A pair of pockets on the inner side of each thoracic membrane, between the second and third thoracic segments. Collar chaetae bayonet, with elongate rounded teeth at base of very short blade ( Fig. 20A), and limbate. Apomatus chaetae absent. Thoracic uncini of Serpula type, with 4–5 teeth and pointed fang ( Fig. 20B). Triangular depression present. Abdominal chaetae flat trumpet-shaped with denticulate edge as in Serpula ( Fig. 20D). Abdominal uncini similar to thoracic ones, saw-shaped with 4–5 teeth anteriorly, but rasp-to-saw-shaped (dental formula F:1:1:2:3:3:3:4:3) posteriorly ( Fig. 20C), with 1 tooth proximally above fang (F) to 3 (exceptionally 4) teeth per row distally, 7–8 teeth in profile. Achaetous zone absent. Long posterior capillary chaetae present. Posterior glandular pad absent.

Remarks. The species is an obligate symbiont of corals in the Indo-West Pacific ( Uchida 1978, Bailey- Brock 1985, Nishi 1992b). The chaetation pattern of this species is very similar to that typical for Crucigera- Hydroides-Serpula-Spiraserpula group and, as it was suggested by its author, F. sabiuraensis is likely to be closer to that clade than to Protis .

The unusual characteristic feature of this monotypic genus is the presence of pockets in the thoracic membranes, however, see Remarks following Serpula . Bailey-Brock (1985) noted that one Floriprotis specimen from Fiji did contain eggs in pockets with a few eggs under the overlapping flaps of thoracic membranes, but whether these eggs were fertilized remains unknown. Thus, there is no hard evidence that the pockets are used for incubation.

Another special feature according to Uchida (1978, Plate V A) would be the presence of wart-like protuberances laterally in the collar segment. However, though never reported before, wart-like protuberances are found in some larger species of Hydroides and Serpula and in Protis hydrothermica (ten Hove & Zibrowius 1986, fig. 6q); the character had not been noted before in these taxa.

Floriprotis has been reported from southern Japan ( Uchida 1978, Nishi 1992b) and Fiji ( Bailey-Brock 1985) and Indonesia (herein). At least some of the latter material, however, shows abraded Serpula - type collar chaetae (e.g., Nishi 1992b fig. 2C) rather than the typical Floriprotis bayonets (e.g., Uchida 1978 Pl. V C; Bailey-Brock 1985 fig. 13e; this paper), and either a pair of small pseudopercula or even a half developed Serpula - type operculum. The presence of warts on the collar segment makes this material even more confusing, all should be rechecked and variability (if any) of collar chaetae and (pseud)opercula should be documented.

Floriprotis sabiuraensis Uchida, 1978 , Japan, Indonesia, Fiji.