Eunice lita (Chamberlin 1919)

Eunice lita (Chamberlin, 1919)

Leodice lita Chamberlin, 1919a:240–244, pl. 54: figs. 6–10, pl. 55: figs. 1–7.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, USNM 19395, Albatross (no station indicated), Marshall Islands, on anchor coming up from 12 fathoms, Exped. 1899–1900.

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype complete (in 2 pieces), of unknown sex, with 240 setigers; length 78 mm; maximal width 4 mm; length through setiger 10, 4 mm.

Prostomium (Figure 65f) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, less than as deep as peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally obliquely truncate, dorsally excavate with a thickened rim; median sulcus deep. Eyes between bases of A-I and A-II, black. Antennae in horseshoe; A-I separated by gap from A-II and A-III; A-I thicker than A-II and A-III. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles tapering, without articulations. A-I to middle of peristomium; A-II to setiger 4; A-III to setiger 5. Peristomium anteriorly somewhat flaring. Separation between rings very distinct both dorsally and ventrally and visible laterally. Anterior ring of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of prostomium, medially inflated, without articulations.

Maxillary formula 1+1, 4+4, 6+0, 4+9, and 1+1. Mx III and left Mx IV forming distal arc.

Branchiae present, palmate, distinctly longer than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region. Branchiae from setiger 15 to setiger 120. Branchiae terminating well before posterior end, present on less than 55% of total number of setigers. Most branchiae single, digitiform filaments (Figure 65e); some branchiae, especially at about setigers 35–70 with 2 filaments. Filaments digitiform, longer than notopodial cirri.

Anterior neuropodial acicular lobes distally truncate, becoming conical posteriorly; aciculae emerging at midline. Pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 4 ventral cirri thick, tapering, becoming basally inflated from about setiger 5. Inflated bases thick, transverse welts; narrow tips short and button-shaped. From about setiger 50 inflated bases reduced. Ventral cirri emerging increasingly from posterior face of parapodium, by last setigers present reduced to very small, nearly rudimentary knobs. Anterior notopodial cirri short, digitiform, becoming short, slender filaments at bases of much larger branchial filaments in branchial region. Notopodial cirri without articulations.

Limbate setae slender, marginally smooth. Pectinate setae (Figure 65i) small. Shafts slender. Blades flaring, flat. One marginal tooth longer than other teeth, with 12 teeth. Compound falcigers (Figure 65h) long-shafted, shafts gently inflated, marginally smooth. Appendages short, sharply tapering; heads large, bidentate. Proximal teeth larger than distal teeth, tapering, directed laterally, distally upturned. Distal teeth thick, blunt, directed obliquely distally. Guards symmetrically rounded, marginally smooth; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae single except in a few anterior setigers, dark, pointed, straight; cross-sections round. Posterior aciculae projecting well beyond acicular lobes. Subacicular hooks (Figure 65g) dark, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 23, present in all setigers thereafter, always single (except for replacements). Hooks curved, distally abruptly tapering; heads large. Proximal teeth larger than distal teeth, directed laterally, distally upturned. Distal teeth nearly erect, triangular.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Pygidium and anal cirri.

EXPECTED STATES OF SELECTED UNKNOWN FEATURES.—None.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—inappropriate Characters: 22, 34, 56, 58, 59. Unknown Characters: 4, 6, 74, 78.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.