Ophryotrocha olympica

Paxton, Hannelore & Åkesson, Bertil, 2010, The Ophryotrocha labronica group (Annelida: Dorvilleidae) — with the description of seven new species, Zootaxa 2713, pp. 1-24 : 13

Ophryotrocha olympica nom. nud.

Table 1

Ophryotrocha olympica nom. nud. Pleijel & Eide, 1996: 648.

Diagnosis. Prostomium with moderately long, tapering antennae, palps absent; two distinct eyes, not medially connected; parapodia uniramous, lacking dorsal and ventral cirri; dorsal single rosette glands on posterior segments; detail of mandibles and maxillae unknown, K-forceps, right bidentate, left falcate; gonochoristic; chromosomes 2n = 6; diameter of eggs 165 µm; released larvae with 3 chaetigers.

Remarks. The specimens were collected in June 1978 in the Mukkaw Bay in the Makah Indian Reservation, about 8 km south of Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington state, in gravel from a depression in the rocky shore, mid to high intertidal zone.

Crossing experiments demonstrated that this species is a typical member of the O. labronica group, as has been confirmed by electrophoresis ( Pleijel & Eide 1996). In routine culture the adult females had 17-19 chaetigers with a maximum of 22. Males were smaller, 14-15 chaetigers and an observed maximum of 17. Adults have small, segmentally arranged brown-red pigment spots.

Since the culture no longer exists and no material was preserved, this species remains indeterminate.

Distribution. Western North Pacific: Mukkaw Bay, Olympic peninsula, Washington, USA.