Lepidastheniella phillippensis Monro, 1924

Barnich, R & Fiege, D, 2004, Revision of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (Polychaeta: Polynoidae: Lepidastheniinae) with notes on the subfamily Lepidastheniinae and the description of a new species, Journal of Natural History 38, pp. 863-876 : 870-872

Lepidastheniella phillippensis Monro, 1924

(figure 2A–E)

Lepidasthenia comma: Fauvel, 1917: 182 , pl. IV, figures 1–4, text-figure IX [not Polynoe comma Thomson, 1902 ].

Lepidastheniella phillippensis Monro, 1924: 44 .

Type material. Lepidastheniella phillippensis , syntypes: three spms (one spm in three fragments; 1 cs, 1 mf), BMNH 1925.1.28.15-16, ‘ Alert’ Expedition to the Indo-Pacific 1878–82, Port Phillip Head , South Australia .

Description. Dorsum with darkly pigmented transverse stripes. Anterior end (figure 2A): prostomium without cephalic peaks; median antenna with ceratophore in anterior notch, style smooth, abruptly tapering sub-distally (missing in figured specimen, but present in the other syntype); lateral antennae inserted terminally, with distinct ceratophores, styles smooth, abruptly tapering sub-distally; anterior pair of eyes dorsolaterally on widest part of prostomium, posterior pair dorsally closely behind anterior pair; palps papillate, tapering; facial tubercle absent. Tentaculophores (segment 1) inserted laterally to prostomium, without chaetae, with a pair of dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri with styles smooth, abruptly tapering sub-distally. Second segment with first pair of elytra, sub-biramous parapodia, and long, ventral buccal cirri; notochaetae absent; neurochaetae distally with distinct rows of spines and crest near tip.

Numerous pairs of delicate elytra, inserted on segments 2, 4, 5, alternating to end of body; elytra largest in anterior part of body, but not covering dorsum; elytral margin and surface smooth, veins visible (figure 2B). Styles of dorsal cirri smooth, abruptly tapering sub-distally in anterior segments, tapering gradually in more posterior ones; anteriormost reaching tips of neurochaetae, more posterior ones shorter (figure 2A, C); styles of ventral cirri smooth, tapering, shorter than neuropodia (figure 2C).

Parapodia sub-biramous, smooth; notopodia reduced, but distinctly digitiform (figure 2A, C); neuropodia truncate, notched dorsally and ventrally, with elongate distally rounded lobes; tips of noto- and neuro-acicula not penetrating epidermis (figure 2C). Notochaetae absent. Neurochaetae stout, falcate, distally with rows of spines and crest with five to six indentations near tip, tips unidentate or notched with indication of secondary tooth (figure 2D, E).

Nephridial papillae rather indistinct, beginning at segment 25.

Remarks. Lepidastheniella phillippensis is easily distinguished from all other species of the genus due to its neurochaetae showing a crest near the tip (figure 2D, E).

Measurements. Specimen figured: syntype of Lepidastheniella phillippensis (cs in three fragments) ( BMNH 1925.1.28.15–16): L about 110 mm, W 7 mm for 186 segments (af: 27 segments, mf: 25 segments, pf: 134 segments).

Distribution. S. Australia (Port Phillip Head).

Habitat. Unknown.