Eunice levibranchia (Hoagland 1920)

Eunice levibranchia (Hoagland, 1920)

Leodice levibranchia Hoagland, 1920:614–615, pl. 50: figs. 1–8.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, USNM 19018, Albatross sta 5348, Point Tabonan, Palawan Passage, Philippine Islands, 10°57′45″N, 118°38′15″E, 27 Dec 1908, 686 m, coral and sand bottom, beam-trawl.

COMMENTS ON MATERIAL EXAMINED.—The holotype is poorly preserved and especially the different parapodial lobes are difficult to distinguish. The type has been dissected for the jaws, and details of the ventral side of the prostomia and peristomia are difficult to discern.

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype complete, of unknown sex, with 105 setigers; total length 94 mm; maximal width 8 mm; length through setiger 10, 9 mm. Body anteriorly dorsally strongly convex, tapering abruptly to a ragged posterior end.

Prostomium (Figure 65a) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, less than as deep as peristomium. Prostomial lobes short, frontally rounded, dorsally inflated. Eyes between bases of A-I and A-II, black. Antennae in shallow horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles slender and digitiform, without articulations. A-I to middle of posterior peristomial ring; A-II and A-III to setiger 2. Peristomium cylindrical. Separation between rings distinct dorsally and probably ventrally; anterior ring ~ of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of anterior peristomial ring, without articulations.

Maxillary formula (combining observations of Mx I and II, which are present, with Hoagland's observations) 1+1, 8+7, ?+0, 10+10, and 1+1.

Branchiae present, palmate, distinctly shorter than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region. Branchiae from setiger 69 to setigers 85–95. Branchiae present to near posterior end to terminating well before posterior end, present on less than 55% of total number of setigers. Branchiae small tufts with 2 to 3 filaments.

Parapodia all very small compared to size of specimen, especially in anterior end. Neuropodial acicular lobes distally truncate; aciculae emerging at midline. Pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 1–2 ventral cirri tapering. Median ventral cirri with inflated bases. Inflated bases transverse welts; narrow tips short and button-shaped. Inflated bases decreasing posteriorly. Posterior ventral cirri tapering. Notopodial cirri short, tapering, slender, without articulations.

Limbate setae marginally smooth. Pectinate setae (Figure 65c) short, relatively stout, slightly flared, furled. One marginal tooth distinctly longer than other teeth, with ~10 coarse teeth. Shafts of compound falcigers inflated, marginally serrated. Appendages (Figure 65b) thick, tapering; heads large, bidentate. Teeth similar in size. Proximal teeth narrowly triangular, directed laterally. Distal teeth thick, with distinct basal bend, blunt, directed obliquely distally. Guards asymmetrically bluntly pointed, marginally serrated; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae numbering 2–3, dark, tapering, straight or very gently curved; cross-sections round. Subacicular hooks (Figure 65d) dark, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 28, present in all setigers thereafter, always single (except for replacements). Hooks slender, distally abruptly tapering to slender necks; heads distinct. Proximal teeth very much larger than distal teeth, directed laterally. Distal teeth blunt, very short, nearly erect.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Various details of the jaw apparatus; 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, 42, 74, 78.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.