Lanice Malmgren, 1866

Nogueira, João Miguel Matos, Hutchings, Pat & Carrerette, Orlemir, 2015, Terebellidae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 484-576 : 567

Genus Lanice Malmgren, 1866

Lanice .— Hutchings & Glasby 1988: 17 –18.

Type-species. Nereis conchilega Pallas, 1766 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part sometimes with eyespots; distal part shelf-like. Buccal tentacles frequently longer than body. Peristomium forming lips; hood-like upper lip; small, swollen lower lip, restricted to oral area. Segment 1 reduced dorsally, with pair of large lobes directed anteriorly and covering upper lip, mid-ventrally fused to each other and indented anteriorly, partially exposing the lower lip; lobes of segment 1 originating at variable position from dorsal to ventral sides of body. Segment 2 usually only conspicuous dorsally, laterally covered by lobes of segment 3 and fused to segment 3 mid-ventrally, as anterior part of single, protruding mid-ventral shield between segments 2–3 or 2–4. Segment 3 with pair of large lateral lobes, of variable size and shape. Three pairs of arborescent dorso-lateral branchiae present from segment 2. Anterior segments with glandular, rectangular to trapezoidal, smooth to corrugated mid-ventral shields; blood red region present at posterior region with mid-ventral shields; mid-ventral groove extending posteriorly from termination of mid-ventral shields. Short and conical notopodia beginning from segment 4, extending for 17 segments, until segment 20. Notochaetae distally winged in both rows. Neuropodia present from segment 5, as low ridges until termination of notopodia, as low pinnules thereafter. Neurochaetae throughout as short-handled avicular uncini, arranged in completely separated double rows, in back to back arrangement, from segment 11 until termination of notopodia, on segment 20; uncini with poorly defined dorsal button at mid-length of base and crest with several transverse rows of secondary teeth. Nephridial and genital papillae usually poorly developed, almost inconspicuous, of variable position and distribution. Pygidium smooth to papillate. Tube frequently with distal ornamentation ( Hutchings & Glasby 1988).

Remarks. Lanice is very similar to Loimia , differing from this genus in having uncini with transverse rows of secondary teeth, instead of teeth being arranged pectinately.

Two species of Lanice were previously known from Australian waters, L. bidewa Hutchings & Glasby, 1988 , described from VIC, and L. sinata Hutchings & Glasby, 1990 , described from SW Australia. The former has been recorded from all around Australia including Lizard Island, although we suggest that this needs to be rechecked; the latter species is known only from WA and NT. A third species described herein is from Lizard Island.