Bathyeliasona nigra (Hartman 1967)

Bathyeliasona nigra (Hartman)

Herdmanella nigra Hartman, 1967:25, pl. 3A–D.

Macellicephala (Macellicephala) nigra.—Hartmann-Schröder, 1974:76, 81, 84.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Antarctic, South Sandwich Islands, 58°51S, 27°13′W, 2555–2575 m, Eltanin sta. 610, 8 May 1963, holotype and paratype (AHF 21, 22).

DISTRIBUTION.—Antarctic (South Sandwich Islands), in 2553 to 2575 meters.

Bathyvitiazia, new genus

TYPE-SPECIES.—Macellicephala pallida Levenstein, 1971. Gender: feminine.

DIAGNOSIS.—Body short, flattened, fusiform; segments 17 (first achaetous). Elytra and small elytrophores emerging near bases of notopodia (similar in position to cirrophores of dorsal cirri on cirrigerous segments), 8 pairs, on segments 2, 4,5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, with dorsal cirri on posterior 2 segments. Prostomium slightly bilobed, without frontal filaments or lateral antennae; ceratophore of median antenna inserted in middle of prostomium; paired palps short; without eyes. First or tentacular segment fused to prostomium, 2 pairs of tentacular cirri lateral to prostomium, with distinct cirrophores, without setae. Segment 2 with buccal cirri attached to basal parts of parapodia, lateral to ventral mouth; styles longer than following ventral cirri. Parapodia biramous, with notopodia shorter than neuropodia, both rami with elongate acicular processes. Notosetae slender, delicate, transparent, flattened, with blunt tips and serrations along lateral borders. Neurosetae stouter than notosetae, flattened, transparent, with blunt tips and widely spaced serrations along lateral borders. Dorsal cirri with short cylindrical cirrophores and long styles; ventral cirri short, attached near middle of neuropodia. Without distinct dorsal tubercles on cirrigerous segments. Nephridial papillae indistinct, none enlarged. Pygidium oval, truncate, with dorsal anus and pair of anal cirri. Pharynx with 6 pairs (?) of papillae and 2 pairs of jaws; jaw plate with row of small teeth.

A single species is referred to Bathyvitiazia: B. pallida (Levenstein), as Macellicephala pallida Levenstein, 1971b, northwest Pacific, in Kamchatka Trench, in 3816 meters.

Bathyeliasona nigra is a deep-sea scale worm which occurs widely in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans from a depth range of about 2,500-5,000m.