Macellicephala mirabilis (McIntosh 1885)

Macellicephala mirabilis (McIntosh, 1885)

Polynoe (Macellicephala) mirabilis McIntosh, 1885:121, pl. 16: fig. 1. pl. 12a: figs. 9–11; 1905:59.

Macellicephala mirabilis.—Augener, 1932:100.—Monro, 1936: 100.—Hay. 1967:45. fig. 1.3.n–p.—Averincev, 1972:112.

Macellicephala (Macellicephala) mirabilis.—Hartmann-Schröder. 1974: 76. 84.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—New Zealand, off North Island, 37°34′S, I79°22′E, 1280 m, blue mud, Challenger sta. 169, 10 July 1874, holotype (BMNH 1885: 12: 1: 100).

South Africa, off Cape Point Lighthouse, 860 m, 1 specimen (BMNH 1924: 7: 21: 12; reported by McIntosh, 1905).

South Georgia, mouth of Stromness Harbor, 155–178 m, green mud and sand, Discovery sta. 144, 2 specimens (BMNH 1936: 2: 8: 488; reported by Monro, 1936).

DESCRIPTION.—Length of holotype about 25 mm, width including setae 18 mm, segments 18. Dorsal tubercles on cirrigerous segments small to absent (Figure 2b). Bulbous frontal lobes of prostomium with minute frontal filaments visible (Figure 2a), withdrawn or broken (Figure 1a,b). Median antenna with style extending beyond palps. Palps long, tapered. Tentacular cirri long, extending beyond palps. Facial tubercle medial to bases of palps, consisting of 2 to 3 rounded tubercles or bulbous areas (Figures 1b, 2a).

Parapodia typical (Figures 1c,d, 2b,c). Notosetae moderate in number, stouter than neurosetae, thin, brittle, flattened, smooth, with blunt tips (Figures 1e, 2d; McIntosh, 1885, pl. 12A: fig. 9). Neurosetae delicate, (Figures 10, 11). Dorsal cirri with styles extending beyond tips of neurosetae, with slight subterminal enlargements and filamentous tips (McIntosh, 1885, pl. 16: fig. 1).

Reduced parapodia of segment 18 lateral to pygidium, consisting of large cirrophores of dorsal cirri and notopodia, with neuropodia lacking (McIntosh, 1885, pl. 16: fig. 1). Nephridial papillae on segments 10, 11 and 12 large and bulbous. Body minutely papillate medial to bases of elytrophores and dorsal cirrophores (Figure 1a).

DISTRIBUTION.—Antarctic: off New Zealand, South Africa, South Georgia, Princess Astrid Coast, in 155 to 1280 meters.