Sabellaria javanica Augener, 1934

Figs. 7 (A–D), 8 (A–D), 9 (A–D).

Sabellaria javanica – Augener, 1934: 390; Kirtley, 1994: 67.

Material examined. Syntype ZMH V- 11422. Four syntypes and parts of tubes (made of sand granules and shell fragments). Soerabaia, Java, 14–16 m, collected by Buitendyk, 1906.

Description. Syntype I - incomplete and posterior abdomen missing, 15 mm long, 2.0 mm at widest part of opercular crown, 16 abdominal chaetigers. Syntype II - complete, 28 mm long, 2.0 mm wide at parathoracic, cauda 7 mm long. Syntype III - complete, 25 mm long, 2.5 mm wide at parathoracic, 3.0 mm width at crown, 25 abdominal chaetigers. Syntype IV - complete, 30 mm long, 2.0 mm wide at parathoracic, cauda 7.0 mm long, 24 abdominal chaetigers. Cauda ca. 5.0 to 7.0 mm long and bent back on ventrum. Body of preserved worm creamy or shiny white.

Anterior end of opercular stalk not fused, separated into two symmetrical lobes (Fig. 7 A, B). Lobes of similar width from anterior to posterior, slightly sloping posteriorly toward dorsal midline (Fig. 8 B). Operculum flat to slightly concave or dish-shaped (Figs. 7, 8 C, E). Colour of crown tan to brown with charcoal black specks and blotches.

Paleae bright yellow or light brown, arranged in three rows (outer, middle, inner) on each lobe (Figs. 7 A, 8 E). Outer paleal crown with 30–36 flattened, semi-triangular paleae on each side (Fig. 8 A, B). Outer paleae curved slightly outward from longitudinal axis of shaft, central tooth ends with median plume, one pair of lateral teeth with sharp, sometimes bent tips (Fig. 9 A, B). Outer palea (op) approximately 1 mm long (excluding median plume) and 0.2 to 0.25 mm wide at base. Inner surface of their blades with approximately 50 fine closely-spaced thecal bands (Fig. 9 A, B). Median plume extended, approximately 0.02 mm long, with base wider than lateral teeth (Fig. 9 A, B). Middle paleae of single kind, 20–24 in each row, with rounded tips, blades with thecal bands (Fig. 9 B). Inner row of paleae with 22–25 pairs of paleae, slender ones with denticles on distal margins of elongate blade (Fig. 9 D). Surface of excavated blade with thecal bands. Fourfive nuchal spines on each side of anterio-dorsal midline of prostomium (Fig. 8 A).

Anterior outer margin of opercular crown with 25–30 fleshy conical papillae in single row on each side (Fig. 8 A–C). Ventral margin of buccal cavity with over 20 longitudinal rows of feeding tentacles (ft) on each side (Figs. 7 B, 8 B–C). Building organ (bo) U-shaped, with conical cirri, forming upper lip on ventral side (Fig. 8 C). Feeding tentacles pale or with brown pigments, extending beyond the length of the operculum in some worms or shorter and not obscuring the operculum in others. Inferior lobes of second chaetiger with fascicle of 8–10 bipinnate capillary chaetae and conical lateral cirri (Fig. 8 A, B). Superior lobes with achaetous conical cirri along lateral margin of opercular lobe, with dorsal conical branchiae (Fig. 8 A, B).

Three parathoracic chaetigers (pt) with 8–10 stout, oar-shaped chaetae and spine-like companion chaetae in 2 or 3 rows on each neuropodium and about 10 chaetae on each notopodium (Fig. 9 B). Abdomen with 25– 30 chaetigers in syntypes, with bundles of 10–15 long simple capillaries and finely serrated neurochaetae, and elongate conical ventral cirri with uncinigerous tori. Anterior-most 6–10 abdominal chaetigers with long dorsal branchiae diminishing in size posteriorly, but branchiae present in most posterior chaetigers (Fig. 8 E). Branchiae with horizontal cirral rows (Figs. 7 C, 8 A). Eyespots not observed in preserved specimens.

Variation. Three of four syntypes complete, 20.0 to 25.0 mm long, 4.0 to 5.0 mm wide at widest part of opercular crown. Many median plumes destroyed and lost from the type specimens. Cauda long, 7 to 8 mm in length, and bent back on ventrum (Fig. 8 E).

Tube. The tube constructed of sand granules and shell debris (Fig. 7 D); inner side coated with a thin membrane. Tube length up to 10 mm, tube aperture 3.0–4.0 mm in diameter. Approximately ten congregated tubes found in the sample; they probably sometimes form small colonies (Fig. 7 D).

Type locality. Soerabaia, Java, Indonesia.

Distribution. Coast of Java, Indonesia.

Remarks. The species is known only from the type-locality of the syntype (Augener, 1934). Sabellaria javanica differs from other species of the genus by having a single kind of middle opercular paleae and a simple long median plume with a pair of lateral teeth on outer paleae (Figs. 8 E, 9 A, B).