Metaxypsamma uebelackerae Wolf 1986

Metaxypsamma uebelackerae Wolf, 1986

Metaxypsamma uebelackerae Wolf, 1986:80, fig. 1a–h.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO: Off Florida; MAFLA sta 2959, Aug 1977, 60 m, silt, very fine sand, paratype (USNM 97801). MAFLA sta 2748, Jul 1978, 50 m, coarse sand, holotype (USNM 86846). SOFLA sta 5, Aug 1981, 91 m, coarse sand, 6 paratypes (USNM 86844, 86845).

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype 2.5 mm long, 0.5 mm wide with setae, 24 segments; 5 paratypes 1.2-2 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, 19–22 segments. Body flattened ventrally, arched dorsally; dorsum smooth, ventrum with minute papillae (Wolf, 1986, fig. la,c,f). Dorsum with paired nodular lobes, each with 2–4 long, filiform papillae with knobbed tips on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, continuing on alternate segments; other segments with small lobes (Figure 12A,C,D; Wolf, 1986, fig. la,b,f). Prostomium and first or tentacular segment fused; prostomium oval, bilobed, wider than long; 2 pairs of eyes, anterior pair larger; median antenna with ceratophore in anterior notch, style short, tapered; lateral antennae absent; tentaculophores lateral and anterior to prostomium, achaetous, each with pair of subequal dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri similar to median antenna; long palps emerging ventral and lateral to tentaculophores and extending far beyond median antenna and tentacular cirri; facial tubercle absent (Figure 12A,B; Wolf, 1986, fig. la). Segment 2 with first pair of papillate nodular lobes, uniramous parapodia, and ventral buccal cirri similar to tentacular cirri (Figure 12A,B). Eversible muscular pharynx with 9 pairs of border papillae, subdistal lateral papilla, and 2 pairs of subulate jaws; jaws with venom glands (Figure 12E; Wolf, 1986, fig. lg,h). Parapodia uniramous; notopodia and notosetae absent; neuropodium conical, with neuroaciculum and 6–7 compound neurosetae; shafts smooth, blades all similar, short, falcigerous, unidentate, slightly longer on anterior few segments, with minute teeth on margin (Figure 12A–D; Wolf, 1986, fig. 1b,d,e). Ventral cirri short, 2 jointed (Figure 12D). Pygidium with terminal anus and pair of anal cirri, each with secondary branch, appearing as 2 pairs (Figure 12C; Wolf, 1986, fig. 1f).

BIOLOGY.—Females with large yolky eggs; males with numerous sperm. Interstitial species found in coarse to fine sand and silty very fine sand.

DISTRIBUTION.—Eastern Gulf of Mexico, off Florida, in 50–120 meters.