Eunice elegans (Verrill 1900)

Eunice elegans (Verrill, 1900)

Leodice elegans Verrill, 1900:640–641.

Leodice longicirrata.—Treadwell, 1921:11–14, figs. 3–12, pl. 1: figs. 1–4 [not Eunice longicirrata Webster, 1884].

Eunice longicirrata.—Hartman, 1942:9 [not Eunice longicirrata Webster, 1884].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, YPM 2730, Bermuda, low [shallow] water, Apr 1898, coll. A.E. Verrill and party.

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype complete, of unknown sex, with 133 setigers; total length 75 mm; maximal width 3 mm at setiger 10; length through setiger 10, 8 mm. Body cylindrical anteriorly, becoming ventrally flattened posteriorly.

Prostomium (Figure 41b) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, as deep as of peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally obliquely truncate, flattened dorsally and ventrally; median sulcus very shallow. Eyes between bases of A-I an A-II. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced. Ceratophores long in all antennae, without articulations. Only left A-II present (Figure 41a), now detached, digitiform, with 9 short, but distinctly cylindrical articulations, to setiger 2. Peristomium cylindrical, about twice as long as prostomium. Separation between rings distinct on all sides, but especially well marked dorsally and ventrally; anterior ring of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of prostomium, tapering, with 4 indistinct articulations.

Jaws not examined.

Branchiae (Figure 41c) present, pectinate, distinctly longer than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, erect. Branchiae from setiger 3 through setiger 33. Branchiae terminating well before posterior end, present on less than 55% of total number of setigers. First and last branchiae single filaments; maximum 10 filaments at setiger 10–15. Branchiae covering dorsum where best developed. Stems slender, erect. Filaments trim, slender, shorter than notopodial cirri.

Anterior neuropodial acicular lobes rounded, becoming increasingly conical posteriorly (Figure 41d); aciculae emerging above midline. Pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 4 ventral cirri tapering. Ventral cirri basally inflated from setiger 5 through about setiger 50. Inflated bases ovate; narrow tips tapering. Posterior ventral cirri broadly attached, tapering to blunt tips, forming very shallow, open scoops around ventral margin of neuropodia. Notopodial cirri supported by aciculae; anterior notopodial cirri basally inflated and indistinctly separated into 4 articulations. Articulations lost in first few setigers of branchial region; notopodial cirri becoming slender and tapering from first postbranchial setigers, retaining that shape to the end.

Limbate setae slender, marginally finely serrated. Pectinate setae (Figure 41e,j) tapering, flat. One marginal tooth longer than other teeth, about, 10 teeth present; anterior pectinate setae somewhat asymmetrical, becoming symmetrical in postbranchial region. Shafts of anterior compound falcigers (Figure 41k) tapering, becoming gently inflated (Figure 41f) in postbranchial setigers, marginally smooth; beaks indistinct. Anterior appendages tapering; heads indistinct, bidentate. Proximal teeth very much shorter than distal teeth, triangular. Distal teeth tapering, nearly erect. Guards asymmetrically bluntly pointed. Postbranchial appendages short, with large heads. Proximal teeth and distal teeth similar in size; proximal teeth tapering, directed basally. Distal teeth smoothly curved. Guards symmetrically rounded; all guards marginally smooth; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Neuropodial aciculae paired, dark yellow to amber-colored; anterior aciculae (Figure 41i) distally expanded into rounded knobs; postbranchial aciculae (Figure 41h) sharply tapered; superior aciculae gently curved dorsally; cross-section round. Separation between core and sheath indistinct in both aciculae and subacicular hooks. Subacicular hooks (Figure 41g) amber-colored, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 30, present in all setigers thereafter, usually 2–3 hooks in a parapodium. Hooks with narrow necks and distinct heads. Proximal teeth twice as large as the distal teeth, triangular, directed laterally. Distal teeth tapering, erect. Guards distally truncate.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Jaw structure; pygidium and anal cirri.

EXPECTED STATES OF SELECTED UNKNOWN FEATURES.—MX III long, located behind left MX II.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 56, 60. Unknown Characters: 17, 23.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.