Grubeulepis westoni Pettibone 1986

Grubeulepis westoni

Grubeulepis cf. ecuadorensis.—Uebelacker, 1984:24–9, figs, 24–5, 6a–j [not G. ecuadorensis Pettibone, 1959].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—North Carolina: Cape Hatteras, Eastward sta 283–286, Jun 1977, 30 m, D.W. Weston, holotype (USNM 97588), 2 paratypes (USNM 97589), 4 juvenile paratypes (USNM 97590). Diamond Shoals, Cape Hatteras, R/V Explorer, 24 Jul 1963, 37 m, M. Cerame-Vivas, 10 paratypes (USNM 97591). NE of Cape Hatteras, 35°20′N, 74°59′W, 70 m, gray silty mud, R/V Gosnold sta 1869, 27 Jun 1964, R. Wigley, 2 paratypes (USNM 97592).

Gulf of Mexico: Off Rio Grande, Texas, 26°10′N, 97°08′W, 15 m, spring 1976, sta 4, N. Rabalais, 1 specimen (USNM 97593); 26°10′N, 96°31′W, 65 m, sta 6, 2 advanced juveniles (USNM 97594). SOFLA sta 8E, May 1974, 26° 16′N, 83°12′W, 48 m, fine sand, 1 specimen (BVA); sta 25D, Nov 1980, 24°47′N, 82°13′W, 24 m, silt/clay, 1 specimen (USNM 74463). MAFLA sta 2423F, Nov 1977, 29°37′N, 84°17′W, 19 m, silty fine sand, 1 specimen (BVA); sta 2693A, Aug 1977, 29°53′N, 88°12′W, 32 m, sandy silt, 1 specimen (BVA). Mississippi Sound, COE sta 470, 3 Nov 1980, 30°05′N, 88°14′W, 19 m, sand, advanced juvenile (USNM 75450); sta 476–3, Mar 1981, 30°03′N, 88°14′W, 21 m, sand, 1 specimen (USNM 97608). Off Alabama, Tuscaloosa Trend, Chevron sta 158, spring 1970, 29°27′N, 88°44′W, 24 m, muddy sand, 3 specimens (BVA; USNM 97607). Off Louisiana, LOOP-offshore sta 484–6, Feb 1984, 28°51′N, 90°04′W, 34 m, mud, 1 specimen (USNM 97609).

Belize: S of Dangriga, Commerce Bight Pier, 75–80 m transect, 17 May 1977, M.L. Jones, advanced juvenile (USNM 97870).

Puerto Rico: Near Punto Palmar Altas, 183 m, sta C-10, Aug 1962, muddy sand, N.C. Hulings, D.E. Feray, adult and juvenile (USNM 81648). Leeward side of Laurel Reef, 1½ mi S of La Parguera, 18 m, 15 Nov 1975, from burrow of fish, Lonchopithus sp., Debbie Arneson, 1 specimen (USNM 97869). Barceloneta, 18°29′N, 66°33′W, EPA Baseline Oceanographic Study near Ocean Outfall Pipeline, 1974, B. Mayo, sta 6N–2C, 11 Sep, 30 m, muddy sand, 2 advanced juveniles (USNM 97867); sta 6H–3G, 10 Nov, 32 m, 1 specimen (USNM 97868).

MEASUREMENTS.—Holotype from North Carolina 33 mm long, 8 mm wide, with 38 segments; paratypes 30–40 × 6–8 mm, with 38–40 segments. Adult specimens from Gulf of Mexico 25–37 × 7–9 mm, with 38–40 segments; from Puerto Rico, 25–38 × 6–8 mm, with 38 segments. Advanced juvenile paratype from North Carolina 12 mm long, 3 mm wide, with 34 segments; from Gulf of Mexico, 5–15 × 2–4 mm, with 32–35 segments; from Puerto Rico, 6–8.5 × 2–2.5 mm, with 30–32 segments; from Belize, 14 × 4 mm, with 34 segments. Smallest juvenile paratypes from North Carolina 4 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, with 23 segments, last one small and incomplete.

DESCRIPTION OF ADULTS.—Twelve pairs of elytra on usual segments, becoming more elongate posteriorly (Figures 33A–D, 36A–E). First pair oval, without papillae (Figures 33A, 36A), following ones with lateral borders fimbriated, with entire digitiform lateral processes, increasing in number from 3–4 on 2nd elytra to 13–20 on 12th elytra, without microtubercles (Figures 33B–D, 36B–E). Two pairs of dorsal cirri short, subulate, on posterior sides of notopodia of segments 3 and 6 (Figures 33H, 37C,F). Branchiae 12–13 pairs, on segments 8, 10, alternate segments to 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 (28), large inflated, with distal papilla (Figures 34D, 38B). Posterior dorsal lamellae up to 10 pairs, conical, beginning on segment 28 or 29, continuing posteriorly (Figures 35B, 38E).

Prostomium withdrawn in anterior 3 segments, posterior middorsal half attached to segment 2, rounded anteriorly, with short globular median antenna attached terminally, short subulate lateral antennae attached anteroventrally, and longer, thicker tapered palps attached ventrally; 2–3 pairs of small eyes and club-shaped nuchal organs on lateral side (Figures 33E, 36F). Tentaculophores of 1st segment directed anteriorly, lateral to prostomium, each with 2 acicula, pair of similar dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri and 2 tufts of smooth and spinous capillary setae (Figures 33F, 36F,G). Elytrigerous parapodia of segment 2 extended anteriorly, notopodia small, conical, with bundle of finely spinous and smooth capillary notosetae; neuropodia similar to following parapodia; neurosetae composed of 2 upper pectinate setae, limbate capillaries, few middle ones somewhat stouter, and lower slender, finely spinous capillaries; buccal cirri longer and thicker than following ventral cirri (Figures 33G, 37A,B). Cirrigerous segment 3 not distinct dorsally; parapodia wedged between parapodia and elytrophores of segments 2 and 4 (Figure 36F); notopodium small, truncate with bundle of capillary notosetae emerging from posterior rounded lobe and stout hooked notosetae with tips tapered or blunt, spatulate, smooth or finely spinous along bend (Figures 33H,I, 37C,D); large rounded neuropodium with 1–2 upper pectinate setae, stout limbate setae with short tapered tips, single middle stout acicular seta, and lower group of finely spinous capillaries lateral to short, tapered ventral cirrus (Figures 33H,J,K, 37C,E). Elytrigerous parapodium of segment 4 similar to 3 except for absence of acicular neuroseta (Figure 34A–C).

Biramous parapodia supported by acicula: notoaciculum with hooked tip, neuroaciculum with distal hammer-shaped plate on anterior side (Figures 34E, 38A). Notopodium truncate, with rounded lobe on posterior side with spreading bundle of long capillary notosetae; upper truncate part with projecting stout amber-colored hooked notosetae, with tips tapering or flattened spatulate, mostly smooth along bend but some finely spinous or roughened (Figures 34D–F, 38A–C); neuropodium flattened, paddle-like, with fan-shaped bundle of neurosetae: 1–2 upper pectinate setae, stout middle limbate capillaries with rather short tapering tips, and lower slender capillaries; ventral cirrus short, bulbous, with terminal bud or filament (Figures 34D,E,G,H, 38A,B,D).

Parapodia of posterior segments differing somewhat from more anterior parapodia. Last branchial parapodium sometimes transitional, with less-developed branchia (Figure 35A). Following parapodia with conical posterior dorsal lamellae from segment 28 or 29 on (Figures 35B, 38E); notopodial hooks strongly roughened and spinous (Figure 38F); upper neurosetae much stouter than lower ones, bent downward, with shorter tapered tips and somewhat roughened or spinous along bend (Figures 35B,D,E, 38E,G,H).

Pygidium small, round, with long papillate anal cirrus on right side and short stub on left side. Pharynx fully extended on specimen from Puerto Rico, with prostomium and anterior parapodia fully exposed (Figure 36F). Distal border of pharynx with circle of about 17 pairs of leaf-like papillae.

DESCRIPTION OF JUVENILES.—Smallest juvenile paratypes from North Carolina 4 mm long, 2 mm wide, with 23 segments, last 2 small and incompletely developed. Long papillate anal cirrus on right side more than half length of body, with small biarticulate cirrus on left side. Elytra 11 pairs, becoming larger toward 7th to 9th elytra, then smaller toward 11th elytra on segment 21, followed by 2 small incomplete parapodia (Figure 39A–G). First elytron with papillae on anterior border and few on surface (Figure 39A). Following elytra with lateral borders fimbriated, processes biarticulate and some with additional terminal bud; 3 processes on elytra 2, increasing to 13 on elytra 10 and decreasing to 10 on last elytra 11, with 1–2 papillae on posterior borders (Figure 39B–G). Dorsal cirri subulate, attached on posterior sides of notopodia of segments 3 and 6 (Figure 40C). Branchiae 7 pairs, beginning on segment 8 (Figure 40J). Posterior lamelligerous parapodia not developed on small juveniles.

Notopodia of elytrigerous segment 2 with slender capillaries; neuropodia with limbate capillaries having short tapering tips, and lower posterior bundle of fine capillaries; buccal cirri long, tapered (Figure 40A,B). Notopodia of cirrigerous segment 3 with slender capillaries on posterior side and notopodial hooks, spinous along bend; neuropodia with limbate capillaries having short tapered tips and single stout acicular seta; ventral cirrus with terminal knob (Figure 40C–E).

Following parapodia similar, with addition of upper pectinate neuroseta and with acicular neuroseta lacking; notopodial hooks smooth or spinous along bend (Figure 40F–L). Parapodia of segment 19 somewhat modified (similar to segments with lamelligerous parapodia): notopodial hooks roughened along bend; upper neurosetae stouter than lower ones, curved downward, roughened or slightly spinous along bend (Figure 40M–O).

Advanced juveniles with 30–34 segments, 12 pairs of elytra, and few posterior lamelligerous parapodia. First elytra with papillae on anterior border and not lacking, as in adults (Figure 41A); following few elytra with lateral processes biarticulate (Figure 41B,C); middle elytra with about 8 entire lateral processes (Figure 41D); posterior 12th elytra not so large as in adults, with about 11 lateral processes, one with terminal bud (Figure 41E). Parapodia similar to adults (Figures 41F–I, 42A–H); most of upper stout neurosetae of posterior lamelligerous parapodia ending in blunt tips and not tapered, as in adults (Figure 42G).

DISTRIBUTION.—North Carolina, Gulf of Mexico, British Honduras, Puerto Rico, in 15–80 meters.

ETYMOLOGY.—The species is named for Donald W. Weston, who collected some of the type specimens and noted some of the differences from previously described species of eulepethids.