Prosphaerosyllis multipapillata (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979)

Guillermo San Martin, 2005, Exogoninae (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from Australia With the Description of a New Genus and Twenty-two New Species, Records of the Australian Museum 57, pp. 39-152 : 71-72

Prosphaerosyllis multipapillata (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979) n.comb.

Figs. 25D–F , 27A–K

Sphaerosyllis multipapillata Hartmann-Schröder, 1979: 107 , figs. 154–158; 1982: 72; 1983: 135.

Material examined. AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES. 6 specimens, AM W22991, Bass Point, 34°36'S 150°54'E, 50 m, The Ecology Lab, for Ready Mixed Industries, 1 Feb 1990. 1 specimen, AM W24374, east of Long Reef, 33°43.63'S 151°19.46'E, sand, 30 m, Fisheries Research Institute, 24 July 1989. VICTORIA. 9 specimens, MV F62673, Eastern Bass Strait, 15 km of eastern edge of Lake Tyers, 50°8'S 148°15.58'E, sand and shell, 25 m depth, 25 Sept 1990. 14 specimens, MV F62205, Eastern Bass Strait, 10.9 km W of Pt. Ricardo, 37°48.96'S 140°30.41'E, medium sand, 18 m depth, Feb 1991.

Description. Body small, broad, 4.2 mm long, 0.45 mm wide, 28 chaetigers, densely covered by numerous, rounded papillae, all similar ( Figs. 25D,E , 27A–C), also on ventral surface ( Fig. 25F ); some specimens contracted on anterior half of body ( Figs. 25E , 27A,C), forming a voluminous region, distinctly broader than posterior half ( Fig. 25D ). Prostomium rectangular, wider than long, with 4 eyes in rectangular arrangement, and 2 anterior, minute eyespots. Antennae small, papilliform, distally truncated ( Fig. 27B,C ); lateral antennae inserted in front of anterior eyes, median antenna inserted between anterior pair of eyes. Palps similar in length to prostomium, totally fused all along their length, with scattered papillae ( Fig. 27B,C ). Peristomium covering partially ( Fig. 27B,C ) or totally ( Fig. 27A ) prostomium and palps; some specimens with prostomium and palps contracted to level of chaetiger 1 ( Fig. 27A ); tentacular cirri similar to antennae, even shorter ( Fig. 27A–C ). Dorsal cirri on all segments, papilliform, similar to dorsal papillae ( Fig. 27A–C ). Parapodia short, conical. Compound chaetae strongly heterogomph, shafts smooth, with short blades, smooth ( Fig. 27I ) or provided with short marginal spines ( Fig. 27F ) on anterior parapodia; parapodia each with about 4–6 compound chaetae; blades about 8–6 µm on anterior parapodia, 9 µm on midbody. Dorsal simple chaetae relatively thick, provided with few, short marginal spines, usually from chaetiger 1 ( Fig. 27E ), smooth and almost straight on posterior parapodia ( Fig. 27H ). Ventral simple chaetae on posterior parapodia, sigmoid, smooth ( Fig. 27J ). Acicula solitary, straight, protruding out from parapodial lobes ( Fig. 27G ), slightly larger on posterior parapodia ( Fig. 27K ). Pharynx wide, usually contracted ( Fig. 27A ); pharyngeal tooth oval, located on middle of pharynx. Proventricle long, large, through 2–4 segments, with 25 muscle cell rows. Pygidium small, with two large and short anal cirri, with a semispherical cirrophore and short, small cirrostyle ( Fig. 27D ).

Remarks. Prosphaerosyllis adelae San Martín, 1984b, from the Mediterranean Sea, appears to be similar, because the strong contraction of the prostomium inside the peristomium and having the anterior part of body broad; the Mediterranean species, however, has a dorsum with few, small papillae, being long, digitiform on ventral surface (San Martín, 1984b, 2003).

Distribution. Australia (Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales).

Habitat. Fine to coarse sand and gravel, intertidal to 50 m depth.

Figures

Fig. 25. SEM of Prosphaerosyllis magnoculata. (A) dorsal view of a mature male with long natatory notochaetae. (B) prostomium, peristomium and chaetiger 1, laterodorsal view (antennae missing). (C) midbody segments, laterodorsal view. SEM of Prosphaerosyllis multipapillata. (D) dorsal view. (E) anterior end, dorsal view. (F) ventral view, midbody.

Fig. 27. Prosphaerosyllis multipapillata. (A) anterior end, dorsal view. (B) prostomium and palps. (C) anterior end, lateral view. (D) pygidium.(E) dorsal simple chaeta, anterior parapodium.(F) compound chaetae, anterior parapodium. (G) acicula, anterior parapodium. (H) dorsal simple chaeta, posterior parapodium. (I) compound chaetae, posterior parapodium. (J) ventral simple chaeta. (K) acicula, posterior parapodium. Scale A,C: 0.064 mm, B,D: 0.1 mm, E–K: 20 µm.