Petersenaspis, Sendall, Kelly & Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., 2013

Sendall, Kelly & Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., 2013, Revision of Sternaspis Otto, 1821 (Polychaeta, Sternaspidae), ZooKeys 286, pp. 1-74 : 54-55

Genus Petersenaspis gen. n.

Type species.

Sternaspis capillata Nonato, 1966.

Diagnosis.

Sternaspids with introvert hooks subdistally expanded. Pre-shield region with 8 segments. Ventro-caudal shield stiff with feebly developed ribs, and no concentric lines.

Remarks.

Petersenaspis gen. n. and Sternaspis have stiff shields, whereas Caulleryaspis has soft shields. However, Petersenaspis differs from Sternaspis because its introvert hooks are subistally expanded, there are 8 segments in the pre-shield region, and the shield has deeply developed ribs but no concentric lines, whereas in Sternaspis introvert hooks are tapered, there are 7 segments in the pre-shield region, and the shield has well developed ribs, often with concentric lines.

As stated above, Petersenaspis gen. n. includes, besides the type species, Petersenaspis capillata (Nonato, 1966) comb. n., from Central and Southern Brazil, Petersenaspis palpallatoci sp. n. from the Philippine Islands, and another species which is characterized below. These species can be separated by the key below.

Etymology.

The genus name is to honor Dr Mary E. Petersen, in recognition of her many studies of polychaetes, including a valuable synthesis of Sternaspis species, and especially because of her long-term support of all our research activities. Petersenaspis is a free combination of her last name and the second part of Sternaspis (Gr. shield) to stress the affinity with the stem genus. Gender: feminine.

Key to species of Petersenaspis gen. n.

(distribution in parenthesis)