Branchiosyllis verruculosa ( Augener, 1913 )

Aguado, Teresa, Martín, Guillermo San & Ten, Harry A., 2008, Syllidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Indonesia collected by the Siboga (1899 – 1900) and Snellius II (1984) expeditions, Zootaxa 1673, pp. 1-48 : 13-15

Branchiosyllis verruculosa ( Augener, 1913)

Fig. 5

Syllis (Typosyllis) verruculosa Augener, 1913: 203 , text-figs 24a–c, pl. 3, fig. 39. Syllis verruculosa .— Monro, 1939: 29, text-fig. 298.

Branchiosyllis verruculosa .— Licher, 1999: 274.—San Martín et al., submitted.

Material examined. 7 syntypes ZMB Verm. 5296, Australia, Western Australia, Albany; 4 syntypes ZMB Verm 5297, Australia, Western Australia, Shark Bay. 1 spec. ZMA V.Pol. 5261, Indonesia, NE coast of Sumba, 09°57'S 120°48'E, sandy bottom, sponges & gorgonians, 50 m, 1.2 m Agassiz trawl, Snellius II, Sta. 4.068, 16 Sept. 1984; 2 spec. AM W30129, Australia, SE end of Long Is., 28°28'48"S 113°46'30"E, dead coral substrate embedded in calcareous substrate, 30 m, 22 May 1994; 3 spec. AM W202642, Australia, Queensland, Triangular Islets, Shoalwater Bay, 22°23'S 150°30'E, 1981. (Material from Australia identified by San

Description. One incomplete specimen 4.5 mm long, 0.7 mm wide, with 33 segments. Body cylindrical, ventrally flattened. Dorsum irregularly pigmented with black spots on middle of some segments; scattered papillae laterally on each segment ( Fig. 5 A), more densely distributed from posterior segments to proventricle, some on ventrum. Segments with indistinct secondary annulation. Prostomium oval, proportionally large; four eyes in open trapezoidal arrangement, nearly on line. Median antenna slightly longer than combined length of prostomium and palps, located just in front of anterior eyes, with about 12 articles; lateral antennae inserted near anterior margin of prostomium, similar in length to median antenna, with about 12–14 articles. Palps shorter than prostomium, ventrally folded. Peristomium similar in length to subsequent segments; dorsal tentacular cirri with 21–26 articles, longer than median antenna; ventral cirri with 16–17 articles, shorter than dorsal ones ( Fig. 5 A). Dorsal cirri with about 20–26 articles. Parapodial lobes conical, distally bilobed, prechaetal and postchaetal lobes similar in size and length ( Fig. 5 G). Ventral cirri digitiform, shorter than parapodial lobes ( Fig. 5 G). About six to seven compound heterogomph chaetae on anterior parapodia; blades falcigerous, unidentate or indistinctly bidentate, with short spines on margin, decreasing in length dorsally to ventrally (ca. 30 µm dorsal-most, ca. 23 µm ventral-most) ( Fig. 5 B). Midbody parapodia with 10–11 compound chaetae, most dorsal blades similar to anterior ones (ca. 25–30 µm); two hooked chaetae located most ventrally on midbody fascicle, with small spines on edge or completely smooth (ca. 25 µm), with curved shafts ( Fig. 5 E). Towards posterior end, some blades become claw-shaped, with blades turned 180º. Posterior parapodia with two claw-shaped chaetae with curved shafts ending in two tips and seven chaetae similar to midbody ones ( Fig. 5 H). Anterior and midbody parapodia each with two slender and straight aciculae ( Figs 5 C, D); posterior segments with one single acicula in each parapodium, thicker than anterior ones and distinctly extending beyond parapodia ( Figs 5 F, G). Pharynx through about six to seven segments; pharyngeal tooth located anteriorly, surrounding papillae not observed. Proventricle longer than pharynx, through eight segments, with about 33 cell-rows and distinct mid-line ( Fig. 5 A). Pygidium lacking.

Remarks. Branchiosyllis verruculosa is the only species known within the genus with dorsal papillae. The specimen agrees well with the previous descriptions and with material from Australia.

Distribution. West and South Australia, Indonesia.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Branchiosyllis verruculosa ZMA V. Pol. 5261. A: Anterior part, dorsal view; B: Anterior chaetae; C: Anterior aciculae; D: Midbody aciculae; E: Midbody chaetae; F: Posterior acicula; G: Midbody parapodium, anterior view; H: Posterior chaetae. Scale A: 0.4 mm; B – F, H: 20 µm; G: 0.2 mm.