Kritzlerius, Londoño-Mesa, 2009

Londoño-Mesa, Mario H., 2009, Terebellidae (Polychaeta: Terebellida) from the Grand Caribbean region 2320, Zootaxa 2320 (1), pp. 1-93 : 71-72

Kritzlerius gen. nov.

Genus A, Kritzler, 1984:52–62, 63; Figs 52–59, 60A-G.

Type species: Kritzlerius anomalus sp. nov., by monotypy.

Etymology: This genus is dedicated to Dr. Henry Kritzler, a passionate taxonomist of terebellids from the Caribbean region.

Diagnosis: Tentacles of two types, each type in different group; short and thin tentacles on wide separated transverse membrane, dorsally attached to upper lip; and long and thick tentacles in two lateral groups on base of upper lip; two pairs of branchiae as long, thin, sessile filaments, from segment 2; eyespots present in two lateral groups; notopodial glandular tissue on segments 4–7; lateral lappets absent; notopodia from segment 3; notochaetae of two types, short smooth, unilimbate, curved distally; and long, straight, unilimbate; neuropodia with uncini avicular in single rows from segment 10.

Remarks: Kritzlerius gen. nov., was identified by Kritzler (1984), but he never formally named the taxon, nor a type species designated, although he provided a detailed description. This genus belongs to Thelepodinae because of the presence of sessile unbranched branchiae on the anterior thoracic segments, and the presence of uncini in single rows along the body.

Precise information about the main characters of each genus in Thelepodinae is presented by Hutchings (1997). She includes four genera with long tentacular membrane, branchiae on segments 2 and 3, and notopodia beginning on segment 3, which are also characters presented by Kritzlerius gen. nov.. Those genera are Decathelepus Hutchings, 1977 , Glossothelepus Hutchings and Glasby, 1986 , Rhinothelepus Hutchings, 1974 , and Telothelepus Day, 1955 . Nevertheless, all these genera differ from Kritzlerius gen. nov., in having one group of tentacles of one length and thickness, 15 thoracic segments with notochaetae, and one type of notochaetae thin, unilimbate, smooth-tipped. Additionally, Decathelepus has uncini from segment 10, Glossothelepus has uncini from segment 9, Rhinothelepus has uncini from segment 8, and Telothelepus has uncini from segment 18. In contrast, Kritzlerius gen. nov., has more than 20 thoracic segments with notochaetae, two isolated groups of tentacles with different length and thickness, two types of notochaetae, and uncini beginning on segment 10.

Thus, after the revision of the material, I conclude that this material belongs to a new genus because of the characters stated above, and they are not seen in other Thelepodinae . The genus is established, diagnosed, and Kritzlerius anomalus sp. nov., is described as its type species.