Sphaerosyllis hirsuta Ehlers, 1897

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 : 99-102

Sphaerosyllis hirsuta Ehlers, 1897

Figs. 55A–H, 56A–H

Sphaerosyllis hirsuta Ehlers, 1897: 48, pl. 3, figs. 58–60; 1908: 66. Augener, 1913: 249; 1927: 156. Fauvel, 1917: 201. Haswell, 1920a: 226. Uschakov, 1955: 190, text-fig. 55. Imajima & Hartman, 1964: 116, pl. 27, figs. f–l.

Sphaerosyllis hystrix.–not Claparède, 1863; Haswell, 1920a: 224, pl.18, figs. 32–35.

Material examined. AUSTRALIA. NEW SOUTH WALES. 10 specimens, AM W480 and 1 specimen, AM W26680, Port Jackson, 33°51'S 151°16'E, as Sphaerosyllis hystrix, identified by Haswell. 1 specimen, AM W21630, 800 m off Port Botany, Botany Bay, 33°58.75'S 151°11.03'E, 7 m,Australian Museum party, 28 July 1992. 35 specimens, AM W24375, east of North Head, Port Jackson, 33°47.84'S 151°18.95'E, sand, 30 m, Fisheries Research Institute (NSW), 21 July 1989. 1 specimen, AM W26416, Manta Reef, North West Solitary Island, 30°01.5'S 153°16.5'E, lace bryozoan, 19 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 25 Jun 1992. 1 specimen,AM W26417, 100 m north west of Split Solitary Island, 30°14.0'S 153°10.8'E, mixed red algae, 15 m, S.J. Keable, 7 Mar 1992. 1 specimen, AM W26418, 100 m north west of Split Solitary Island, 30°14.0'S 153°10.8'E, mixed red algae, 15 m, S.J. Keable, 7 Mar 1992. 2 specimens, AM W26419, 100 m northwest of Split Solitary Island, 30°14.0'S 153°10.8'E, encrusting algae and ascidians, 16 m, E.L. Albertson, 7 Mar 2000. 1 specimen, AM W26420, Halfway Reef, 200 m, south of Sullivan Reef, Ulladulla, 35°21.42'S 150°29.31'E, airlift over wall of sponges, bryozoa, hydrozoa, 15 m, K. Attwood et al., 3 May 2000. 7 specimens, AM W26546, southwest side of South Solitary Island, 30°12.0'S 153°16.0'E, coral rubble, 18 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 24 Jun 1992. 48 specimens, AM W26611, Grotto Point, Balmoral Beach, Port Jackson, 33°49'S 151°15'E, algae, 4 m, P. Colman, 18 July 1983. 2 specimens, AM W26613, Camp Cove, Port Jackson, 33°50.5'S 151°16.6'E, algae & algal turf, P. Serov & G.D.F. Wilson, 27 Nov 1992. 1 specimen, AM W26615, north east corner of Clark Island, 33°51.85'S 151°14.47'E, inside bottle, 5 m, P.A. Hutchings, 17 Apr 1996. 43 specimens, AM W26646, Bottle and Glass Rocks, Port Jackson, 33°50.9'S 151°16.2'E, 12 m, G. Clark, 11 Dec 1989. 3 specimens, AM W26650, north east corner of Clark Island, 33°51.85'S 151°14.47'E, Ecklonia holdfast, 5 m, P.A. Hutchings, 17 Apr 1996. 5 specimens, AM W26652, Barrenjoey Head, Broken Bay, 33°35'S 151°20'E, algae on rocky substrate, 5 m, J.K. Lowry et al., 22 Apr 1983. 2 specimens, AM W26655, Camp Cove, Port Jackson, 33°50.5'S 151°°16.6'E, algae & algal turf, P. Serov & G.D.F. Wilson, 27 Nov 1992. 3 specimens, AM W26675, North ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.44'S 153°34.67'E, coralline turf, 10 m, E.L.A. Ho, 8 Jun 1993. 2 specimens, AM W26676, North Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.44'S 153°34.67'E, sponge, 10 m, A.R. Parker, 08 Jun 1993. 2 specimens, AM W26677, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, clump of solitary ascidians, 14 m, G.D.F. Wilson, 9 Jun 1993. 2 specimens, AM W26678, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, frilly bryozoan, 15 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 9 Jun 1993. 1 specimen, AM W26679, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, yellow/green sponge & crinoid, 12 m, A.R. Parker, 9 Jun 1993. 1 specimen, AM W26685, northeast of Mary’s Rock, Cook Island, 28°11.42'S 153°34.79'E, orange frilly bryozoan, 19 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 8 Jun 1993. 2 specimens, AM W26686, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, rock, 15 m, K.B. Attwood, 9 Jun 1993. 1 specimen, AM W26687, North Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.44'S 153°34.67'E, reef rock, 12 m, K.B. Attwood, 8 Jun 1993. 1 specimen, AM W26688, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, surface of massive sponges, 14 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 9 Jun 1993. 18 specimens, AM W26689, North ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.44'S 153°34.67'E, shell grit, 14 m, K.B. Attwood, 8 Jun 1993. 1 specimen,

AM W26690, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, surface of rock faces & sponges, 14 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 9 Jun 1993. 4 specimens, AM W26719, South Ledge, Cook Island, 28°11.65'S 153°34.63'E, reef rock, 14 m, K.B. Attwood, 09 Jun 1993. 2 specimens, AM W26721, North Creek Canal, Richmond River, 28°52.1'S 153°32.8'E, mud, 3 m, P.B. Berents et al., 02 Mar 1992. 107 specimens, AM W26722, 100 m north west of Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, 28°36.8'S 153°37.8'E, shell and gravel, 15 m, E.L. Albertson et al., 3 Mar 1992. 1 specimen, AM W26717, south west corner of Bowen Island, Jervis Bay, ACT, 35°07.49'S 150°45.77'E, small white sponge from seagrass field, 7 m, P. Serov & G.D.F. Wilson, 08 Dec 1993. 1 specimen, AM W26718, east of launching ramp, Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay, ACT, 35°07.5'S 150°46'E, intertidal pool overhangs with dead, sponge-encrusted barnacles, 0 m, H.E. Stoddart, 28 Jun 1981. 1 specimen, AM W26720, half way along west side of Bowen Island, Jervis Bay, ACT, 35°06.91'S 150°45.91'E, airlift from light grey sponge, 6 m, P. Serov & G.D.F. Wilson, 07 Dec 1993. VICTORIA. 1 specimen, MV F62701, Eastern Bass Strait, 11.7 km W of Pt. Ricardo, 37°49.89'S 148°30.13'E, coarse sand, 27 m depth, 4 Jun 1991. 54 specimens, MV F61900, Eastern Bass Strait, 15.5 km SW of Pt. Ricardo, 37°53.14'S 148°28.94'E, medium sand, 45 m depth, Feb 1991. 4 specimens, MV F87425, Geelong Arm, Port Phillip Bay, 38°09.3'S 144°42.7'E, sand and seagrasses, 3 m depth, 11 Jan 1971. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 1 specimen, AM W26708, Elliston Reef, 33°39'S 134°53'E, algae from reef flat at low tide, P.A. Hutchings, 11 Mar 1979. 20 specimens, AM W26745, Billy Lights Point, Port Lincoln, 34°45'S 135°53'E, stone washings from sheltered intertidal rocks, I. Loch, 15 Feb 1985. 4 specimens, AM W27117, Flinders Cairn, south of Tulka, on Port Lincoln, 34°49'S 135°47'E, mussel clumps at mid-tide, P.A. Hutchings, 10 Mar 1979. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 1 specimen, AM W26664, off end of South Mole, Arthur Head, Fremantle, 32°3'S 115°44'E, sponges, 6 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 25 Dec 1983. 3 specimens, AM W26665, off end of South Mole, Arthur Head, Fremantle, 32°3'S 115°44'E, orange tunicates, 6 m, J.K. Lowry, 25 Dec 1983. 1 specimen, AM W27106, Vancouver Peninsula, King George Sound, 35°04'S 117°56'E, seagrass with hydroid/bryozoan, 3 m, J.K. Lowry, 13 Dec 1983. 1 specimen, AM W27107, north end of Long Island, Goss Passage, 28°28.3'S 113°46.3'E, dead coral covered with coralline algae & boring bivalves, 8 m, C. Bryce, 22 May 1994. 14 specimens, AM W27108, north end of Long Island, 28°27.9'S 113°46.3'E, dead coral substrate with coralline & brown algae, 6 m, C. Bryce, 22 May 1994. 2 specimens, AM W27109, southeast end of Long Island, 28°28.8'S 113°46.5'E, dead coral embedded in calcareous substrate, 30 m, P.A. Hutchings, 22 May 1994. 16 specimens, AM W27110, southeast end of Long Island, 28°28.8'S 113°46.5'E, dead coral substrate covered in coralline algae, 8 m, P.A. Hutchings, 22 May 1994. 2 specimens, AM W27111, Goss Passage, Beacon Island, 28°25.5'S 113°47.0'E, dead coral substrate embedded in fine sediment, 33 m, P.A. Hutchings, 23 May 1994. 10 specimens, AM W27112, off jetty near Fisheries Hut, Beacon Island, 28°25.5'S 113°47.0'E, dead plate-coral substrate— Acropora , Montipora spp. , 12 m, P.A. Hutchings, 23 May 1994. 11 specimens, AM W27113, off south end of Long Island, Beacon Island, 28°28.8'S 113°46.3'E, dead coral substrate covered in coralline algae, 5 m, P.A. Hutchings, 25 May 1994. 1 specimen, AM W27114, Wallabi Island group, 28°27.05'S 113°45.10'E, scallop beds in medium to fine sand with shell debris, 38 m, P.A. Hutchings on FRV “Flinders”, 30 May 1994. 2 specimens, AM W27115, Wallabi Island group, 28°23.61'S 113°45.09'E, scallop beds, shell & sponge debris, 35 m, P.A. Hutchings on FRV “Flinders”, 30 May 1994. 1 specimen, AM W27116, west side of Cassini Island, 13°57'S 125°37'E, P.A. Hutchings, 18 July 1988. 1 specimen,AM W27650, outer Ningaloo Reef, off Ned’s Camp, Cape Range National Park, 21°59.5'S 113°54.5'E, airlift from living Porites sp. , 2 m, R.T. Springthorpe and J.K. Lowry, 1 Jan 1984. 1 specimen, AM W27662, Red Bluff, Kalbarri, 27°42'S 114°09'E, mixed coralline algae from rocky shore, 4 m, J.K. Lowry, 10 Jan 1984. 1 specimen, AM W27664, Bush Bay, 30 km south of Carnarvon, 25°10'S 113°39'E, shallow sand flats, 0.5 m, J.K. Lowry & H.E. Stoddart, 6 Jan 1984. 1 specimen, AM W27666, reef west of groyne, 2 km south of Cape Peron, 32°16'S 115°41'E, orange sponge in deep channel of limestone reef, 4.5 m, R.T. Springthorpe, 26 Dec 1983.

Description. Body variable in size, some specimens relatively long, slender, up to 7–8 mm long, 0.25–0.26 mm wide, 50–55 chaetigers, provided with distinct, numerous conical papillae on dorsal and ventral sides, palps, parapodia and pygidium (Figs. 55A,B, 56A,B,D,F,G ). Colour light brown to cream in alcohol. Prostomium rectangular, wider than long; 4 moderate to large eyes in trapezoidal to rectangular arrangement. Antennae pyriform, similar in length to palps; lateral antennae inserted on anterior margin of prostomium, median antenna inserted between posterior eyes (Figs. 55A, 56F ). Palps triangular, broad, similar in length to prostomium, fused along their length, with a dorsal furrow. Peristomium similar in length to following segments, covering dorsally posterior part of prostomium; tentacular cirri similar to antennae, slightly shorter (Figs. 55A, 56F ). Dorsal cirri similar to tentacular cirri, with bulbous bases and relatively short tips (Fig. 55A,B), slightly elongate on midbody ( Fig. 56D,G ) and posterior segments (Fig. 55B); antennae, tentacular cirri and dorsal cirri with internal granular gland and duct with two openings, one at the middle and other on the tip of the cirrus (Fig. 55A,B), distinct on some of longer specimens, but indistinct on others. Parapodial glands small, indistinct, with granular material (Fig. 55A,B). Anterior parapodia each with 5–7 compound chaetae, some shafts provided with a few short subdistal spines, blades unidentate, provided with moderate to short marginal spines, longer on more dorsal chaetae (Figs. 55D, 56H ); moderate dorsoventral gradation in length, 24 µm above 12 µm below (large specimens). Progressively posteriorly diminishing number of compound chaetae on each parapodium to 3–4, shafts slightly larger, blades slightly hooked, smooth or provided with short marginal spines (Fig. 55F), about 16–12 µm long. Solitary simple chaetae from anterior parapodia, usually from chaetiger 1, unidentate, provided with short subdistal marginal spines (Fig. 55E). Ventral simple chaetae from midbody or posterior parapodia, sigmoid, smooth, unidentate (Fig. 55G). Anterior parapodia each with two aciculae, one slender and straight and other slightly larger, distally bent at right angle (Fig. 55C); midbody and posterior parapodia each with solitary, large bent acicula (Fig. 55H). Pharynx through 4 segments; pharyngeal tooth on anterior margin (Fig. 55A). Proventricle through 2 segments, with 13–15 muscle cell rows. Pygidium small, with two anal cirri similar to dorsal cirri but longer (Fig. 55B); pygidial papillae slightly longer than others on dorsal surface of body.

Remarks. This species is widely distributed, reported in Pacific coasts of South America, New Zealand, Japan and Kurile Islands. The species Sphaerosyllis californiensis Hartman may be synonymous with this species.

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

Habitat. All substrates, from dead coral, algae, encrusting organisms, to seagrasses and sand. Intertidal to c. 45 m depth.

Figures

Fig. 56. SEM of Sphaerosyllis hirsuta. (A) mature female carrying eggs, lateral view.(B) mature female carrying juveniles, lateral view. (C) detail of early juveniles. (D) midbody and pygidium (with juveniles). (E) detail of a juvenile. (F) anterior end, lateral view. (G) midbody, dorsal view. (H) compound chaetae, anterior parapodium.