Eubonellia noratlanticum DattaGupta, 1981

Biseswar, Ramlall, 2006, Additions to the deep-sea echiuran (Echiura) fauna of the North-East Atlantic, Zoosystema 28 (4), pp. 853-864 : 858

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.4689879

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4893184

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F53669-FFE3-FFFB-FF34-B9242331C378

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Eubonellia noratlanticum DattaGupta, 1981
status

 

Eubonellia noratlanticum DattaGupta, 1981 View in CoL

( Fig. 2 View FIG A-D)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Porcupine Abyssal Plain, BEN- GAL 2, Discovery 226, stn 13078#11, 48°53.19’N, 16°35.98’W, 4844 m, 12.III.1997, 2 ♀♀.

DESCRIPTION

Colour of proboscis and trunk of preserved specimens is light pink. Distal tip of proboscis of larger specimen is damaged. In smaller specimen only basal stump of proboscis is still attached to trunk. Proximally, lateral margins of proboscis curl inwards giving it a tubular appearance ( Fig. 2A View FIG ). Trunk of larger specimen measures 66 mm in length and 12 mm across broadest part. Corresponding measurements of smaller specimen are 40 and 10 mm. Integument is thick and opaque at extremities of trunk where longitudinal muscles are arranged in bands, but thin and transparent in middle region of trunk. To unaided eye integument appears smooth but under magnification elongated papillae are visible in contracted regions of trunk, aligned roughly in transverse rows. Proboscis and trunk covered with elongated finger-like outgrowths, occurring either singly or in clusters ( Fig. 2A View FIG ). Genital pore is a transverse slit located about 8 mm away from anterior end of trunk ( Fig. 2A View FIG ).

Gonoduct single, sac-like, located on right side of nerve cord ( Fig. 2B View FIG ). Gonostome terminal, resembling short flared vase on a long stalk ( Fig. 2B View FIG ). Alimentary canal long and coiled forming several loops. Contents of gut fine sand not moulded into faecal pellets. Dorsal and neurointestinal vessels arise from wall of foregut without ring sinus ( Fig. 2C View FIG ). Dorsal vessel prominent, passing anteriorly dorsal to oesophagus and pharynx and entering proboscis. Neurointestinal vessel is single throughout ( Fig. 2C View FIG ). Anal vesicles small and branching ( Fig. 2D View FIG ).

REMARKS

The genus Eubonellia is distinguished by the presence of a bifurcate proboscis, absence of ventral setae, and a single gonoduct (right) with a distally located gonostome. The species Eubonellia noratlanticum is based on specimens from the North Atlantic collected at a depth of 3800 m. The present specimens closely approach the description provided by DattaGupta (1981) except for minor differences in the papillae and anal vesicles. The elongated outgrowths on the proboscis and trunk in the present specimens are probably epizoans. Some epizoans have been reported to occur on soft-skinned animals such as polychaete worms. Eubonellia noratlanticum appears to be close to E.valida , described by Fisher (1946). According to DattaGupta, the proboscis of E.valida is long, broad and flat and distally ends in two narrow limbs.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Annelida

Class

Polychaeta

Order

Echiuroidea

Family

Bonelliidae

Genus

Eubonellia

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