Eunice norvegica (Linnaeus 1767)

Eunice norvegica (Linnaeus, 1767)

Nereis norvegica Linnaeus, 1767:3116.—Gunnerus, 1768, pl.2: fig. 7.

Nereis madreporae pertusae Gunnerus, 1768:45–51, pl. 2: fig. 11.

Leodice norwegica Lamarck, 1818:323 [in part].—Örsted, 1845:402, 406 [in part].

Leodice gunneri Storm, 1881:92–95.

Eunice norwegica.—Cuvier, 1817:525 [? in part].—Audouin and Milne Edwards, 1833:219 [in part].—Grube, 1850:292.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Neotype and 1 additional specimen, KNVSM, No. 63, Röberg, Statsbygd, Trondheimsfjorden, Norway, 2 specimens.

DESCRIPTION.—Both specimens complete; one with 115 setigers of which last 15 in regeneration. Neotype with 157 setigers with last 20 discolored, possibly regenerating; total length 200 mm; maximal width 9 mm; length through setiger 10, 13 mm.

Prostomium (Figure 81a) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, as deep as of the peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded, dorsally inflated; median sulcus deep. Eyes hidden below overhanging peristomial fold, located behind bases of A-II, black. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles digitiform, with up to 16 distinct cylindrical articulations in A-III. A-I to middle of peristomium; A-I to setiger 3; A-III to setiger 4. Peristomium massive, muscular, cylindrical; frontal margin folded into series of short scallops. Separation between rings distinct dorsally and ventrally; anterior ring of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to front edge of prostomium, slender, with one long and 7 short, bead-like articulations.

Maxillary formula of neotype 1+1, 7+7, 9+0, 4+9, 1+1, and 1+1. Mx III long; however, forming a distal arc with very short left Mx IV.

Branchiae (Figure 81e) present, pectinate, about as long as notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, erect. Branchiae from setiger 7 to setiger 155. Branchiae present to near posterior end, present on more than 65% of total number of setigers. First and last 3 branchiae single filaments, all others pectinate with up to 7 branchial filaments. Filaments short, digitiform.

Anterior neuropodia truncate, becoming rounded in posterior setigers; aciculae emerging at midline. All pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 6 ventral cirri thick, tapering. Ventral cirri basally inflated from about setiger 7 through setiger 80. Inflated bases ovate; narrow tips digitiform. Inflated bases gradually decreasing posteriorly; last 50 ventral cirri digitiform. Anterior notopodial cirri long, tapering, with 3 cylindrical articulations. Notopodial cirri retaining same size and shape throughout, being especially prominent in posterior setigers; articulations lost by beginning of branchial region.

Limbate setae slender, marginally serrated. Pectinate setae (Figure 81d) tapering, flat. Both marginal teeth slightly longer than other teeth; ~15 teeth present. Shafts of compound falcigers (Figure 81b) tapering, marginally smooth. Appendages short, tapering to very large heads, bidentate. Proximal teeth larger than distal teeth, tapering, directed laterally. Distal teeth curved. Guards distally irregularly, symmetrically blunt; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae amber or chestnut colored, tapering, straight; cross-section round. Subacicular hooks (Figure 81c) from dark amber or chestnut colored, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 42 (44 in other specimen), present in all setigers thereafter, sometimes paired. Hooks strongly tapering to small heads. Proximal teeth very much larger than distal teeth. Both teeth directed distally.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Pygidium and anal cirri.

EXPECTED STATES OF UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—None.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 56, 58, 59. Unknown Characters: 4, 6, 42, 74, 78.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.

Eunice norvegica is an aquatic polychaete worm found in deep water on the seabed of the northern Atlantic Ocean as well as in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is a tubeworm and is often associated with deep water corals.

Range covers both subprovinces of Acadian and Virginian

Known from seamounts and knolls