Eunice pulvinopalpata Fauchald 1982

Eunice pulvinopalpata Fauchald, 1982

Eunice pulvinopalpata Fauchald, 1982b:781–785, fig. 1a–f.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype and paratype, USNM 74304 and 74305, Pacific Ocean off western Mexico, 20°50′N, 109°06′W, 2633 m, Alvin dive 1214, sample #7, 20 Apr 1982, at base of white smoker. (Other paratypes in BM(NH) and AHF).

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype incomplete with 348 setigers; length 450 mm long; maximal width 11 mm; length through setiger 10, 23 mm. Paratype examined complete with 353 setigers; total length 320 mm with posterior end in regeneration; maximal width 11 mm; length through setiger 10, 18 mm. Body anteriorly cylindrical, becoming ventrally flattened by setiger 100, retaining strongly convex dorsum in all setigers. Body tapering abruptly anteriorly and slowly posteriorly; even in last setigers body 6 mm wide.

Prostomium (Figure 93a) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, as deep as of the peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded, dorsally excavate with a thickened rim; median sulcus deep. Peristomial fold deep. Eyes not observed. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles slender and tapering, with up to 19 irregularly cylindrical articulations in A-III. A-I to posterior peristomial ring; A-II and A-III to setiger 2. Peristomium tapering anteriorly, with a distinct muscular lower lip. Separation between rings distinct dorsally and ventrally; anterior ring of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle or front edge of prostomium, slender and tapering, with ~12 irregular, cylindrical articulations.

Maxillary formula (examined in USNM 74305) 1+1, 17+17, 18+0, 12+12, and 1+1. Mx III behind left Mx II. Both Mx IV with same number of teeth. All teeth very small and even in size.

Branchiae (Figure 93e) present, pectinate, distinctly shorter than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, flexible. Branchiae from setiger 3 to end of body. Branchiae present to near posterior end, present on more than 65% of total number of setigers. First pair single filaments, all other branchiae with at least 4 filaments; maximally 25 filaments from setiger 15 to setiger 275; thereafter number slowly reduced; 15 filaments present in last setigers. Branchial stem thick, folded over in most parapodia. Filaments filiform.

Neuropodial acicular lobes asymmetrically rounded with aciculae emerging on dorsal side. All presetal lobes obliquely truncate. All postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 5 or 6 ventral cirri thick, digitiform. Ventral cirri basally inflated by setigers 6–7; inflated bases retained through about setiger 250. Inflated bases nearly spherical; narrow tips tapering. Far posterior ventral cirri tapering. Notopodial cirri very long, especially in anterior part of body. Where best developed, at about setiger 100, longer than width of body, slender, tapering, without articulations.

Limbate setae marginally smooth. Pectinate setae (Figure 93c) tapering, flat. One marginal tooth very much longer than other teeth; 8 teeth present. Shafts of compound falcigers (Figure 93b) slightly inflated, marginally smooth. Appendages tapering, bidentate. Both teeth of same size, slender, tapering. Proximal teeth directed distally; distal teeth gently curved. Guards asymmetrically bluntly pointed; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Most aciculae in triplets, dark brown to black, with tapering slender tips, straight; cross-section round. Separation between cores and sheaths indistinct in both aciculae and subacicular hooks. Subacicular hooks (Figure 93d) dark brown to black, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 68 in holotype (from setigers 62–72 in paratypes), present in all setigers thereafter, always single (except for replacements). Hooks slender, tapering to a small head. Proximal teeth slightly 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: 1, 2, 4, 6, 13, 14, 36.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.