Microprotula Uchida, 1978

Ten Hove, Harry A. & Kupriyanova, Elena K., 2009, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta): The state of affairs, Zootaxa 2036, pp. 1-126 : 64

22. Microprotula Uchida, 1978

Type-species: Microprotula ovicellata Uchida, 1978

Number of species: 1

Tube white, opaque, circular in cross-section, proximal part irregularly coiled and attached to substrate, distal erect and free. Granular overlay absent. Globular ovicells around erect distal part of the tube. Operculum and pseudoperculum absent. Arrangement of radioles semi-circular, up to 4 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane and stylodes absent. 8–12 pairs of red ocellar clusters present on both sides of each radiole. Mouth palps absent. 7 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar well developed, with 4 weakly expressed lobes. Tonguelets absent. Thoracic membranes narrow, but forming apron. Collar chaetae limbate. Apomatus chaetae present. Thoracic and abdominal uncini rasp-shaped, Protula type, up to approximately 20 teeth in profile, up to 6 in a row; anterior peg elongated, blunt, questionably gouged. Triangular depression absent. Abdominal chaetae sickleshaped with blunt teeth. Achaetous anterior abdominal zone short. Long posterior capillary chaetae present. Posterior glandular pad absent.

Remarks. This poorly known tiny species has never been found in the field, the material described by Uchida (1978) comes from a population found in a marine aquarium. Some more questionable specimens (without typical ovicells) came from “reef rock in aquarium shop in Germany, origin probably Central Indo- Pacific” ( Fosså & Nilsen 2000: 151, ZMA V.Pol. 4046). The type material was re-examined by EK. The species is morphologically very similar to small representatives of the genus Protula (hence the name). The major reason of its elevation into a separate genus has been the presence of tube ovicells used to brood embryos. Microprotula may not have a phylogenetic basis, as some Protula species do show incubation of embryos ( Kupriyanova et al. 2001), admittedly not in special brood-chambers but in gelatinous masses.

Microprotula ovicellata Uchida, 1978 , Sabiura, Japan.