Haplosyllis cephalata Verrill, 1900

(Fig. 8 A–G)

Haplosyllis cephalata Verrill, 1900: 613 –614.— Licher, 1999: 280.

Examined material. Bermudas, Caribbean Sea. 4 syntypes YPM 22543; 6 syntypes YPM 22544; 3 Syntypes YPM 23002. Additional material: 3 specimens YPM 23003, same locality of syntypes.

Description. Syntypes complete, slide preparations in poor conditions. Length 3.5–6 mm, for 25–30 chaetigers, width 0.38–0.5 mm (excluding parapodia) (Fig. 8 A). Preserved specimens yellow pale. Dorsal granules not seen. Prostomium oval, similar in width and length, with two pairs of small red eyes in trapezoidal arrangement. Median and lateral antennae inserted on middle and anterior margin of prostomium, respectively, with 6–7 articles; most median antennae broken. Palps twice as long as prostomium, broadly triangular, fused at their bases, but separated all along their length. Cilia of palps and nuchal organs not seen. Pharynx orange, extending 6–7 segments, width similar to proventricle, anteriorly, with large tooth (Fig. 8 A); papillae and inner ring of cilia not seen. Proventricle dark-brown, cylindrical, about 0.7 mm long and 0.2 mm width, extending 4–6 segments, with 42–52 muscular cell-rows. Peristomium well defined, shorter than subsequent ones. Dorsal tentacular cirri long (7 articles), tentacular ventral cirri broken. Dorsal cirri slender, similar to antennae and tentacular cirri. First dorsal cirri long (14 articles), second, third and fourth intermediate (5–7 articles); remaining cirri always small (1–4 articles) (Fig. 8 A). Ventral cirri digitiform. Chaetae bidentate, all similar, but anterior ones smaller (Fig. 8 B, D, F). LMF similar than SW; MJP straight and short; denticles on US not seen; apical teeth similar in length. One or two chaetae per parapodia. Two aciculae of equal size per anterior and most posterior parapodia, one straight, the other with curved tip upwards directed (Fig. 8 C, G); single acicula on midbody parapodia, broad, with curved tip (Fig. 8 E). Pygidium lacking.

Reproduction. Unknown.

Host. Found inside unidentified sponges (Verrill, 1900).

Distribution. Caribbean Sea, Bermudas

Remarks. The syntypes of Haplosyllis cephalata are on a permanent microslide, affecting the body shape and details of chaetal and acicular morphology. However, the species can be well identified by the marked differences in cirri length of anterior cirri (relatively long) and midbody ones (significantly shorter), as well as by the presence of stout curved acicula. The body seems to be stout, the proventricle is long and the presence of dorsal granules was not evident.