Flabelliderma gourdoni ( Gravier, 1906 ) Salazar-Vallejo, 2007

Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., 2007, Revision of Flabelliderma Hartman, 1969 (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae), Journal of Natural History 41 (33 - 36), pp. 2037-2061 : 2049-2054

Flabelliderma gourdoni ( Gravier, 1906) n. comb.

( Figure 4 )

Flabelligera gourdoni Gravier 1906, p 536 –537; Gravier 1907, p 35 –37, Plate 3, Figure 28, Plate 4, Figures 29, 30, Text figures 19–21; Hartman 1966, p 35 –37, Plate 10, Figures 7 – 9; Knox and Cameron 1998, p 71.

Flabelligera pennigera Ehlers 1908, p 123 –124, Plate 16, Figures 9, 10; Günther 1912, p 13; Monro 1930, p 161; Hartman 1953, p 51, Hartman 1966, p 39, Plate 11, Figures 5 , 6 , (aff.); Hartmann-Schröder and Rosenfeldt 1989, p 72 –73.

Flabelligera induta: Hartman 1953, p 50 (partim, non Ehlers).

Type material

Antarctic Ocean : holotype of Flabelligera gourdoni Gravier, 1906 (MNHN-446) collected off Port Charcot , Carthage Bay , Booth Island (65 ° 089S, 64 ° 029W), Wilhelm Archipelago, Western Antarctic Peninsula, RV Français, Stat. 435, 40 m, 15 April 1904, Turquet, coll.

Additional material

Four specimens ( MNHN-A184 ) collected during the Paris Museum Cape Horn Mission , 1883, Stat. P-1460 (damaged, most outer cuticle removed, two complete ones are 12– 25 mm long, 1.5–2.0 mm wide, cephalic cage 1.5–2.0 length, 18–35 chaetigers). Two specimens broken in two pieces, previously dried out (ZMB-4485), collected in the Kerguelen Islands , Deutsche Tiefsee Expedition ; they were put in 70% ethanol to reduce further damage (they are 11.5/ 17 mm long, 3/ 4.5 mm long, 32/35 chaetigers). Southwestern Atlantic Ocean : one anterior fragment (SMNH-55705), collected during the Swedish South Polar Expedition 1901–03, Stat. 33 (54 ° 229S, 36 ° 289W), Grytviken , South Georgia Island, 22 m, mud and algae, 30 May 1902 (12.5 mm long, 2.8 mm wide, cephalic cage 2 mm long, 22 chaetigers). Two specimens (SMNH-55724), one without outer cuticle, collected during the Swedish South Polar Expedition 1901–03, Stat. 37a (54 ° 229S, 36 ° 289W), Grytviken , South Georgia Island, in rocks, 14 June 1902 (13–17 mm long, 2 mm wide, cephalic cage 1.0– 1.5 mm long, 26–35 chaetigers; one specimen with anterior region with large nodular sediment spots; posterior region contracted). One specimen (SMNH-55728), damaged, collected during the Swedish South Polar Expedition 1901–03, Stat. 55 (52 ° 119S, 60 ° 269W), Port Albermarle , Falkland Islands, 40 m, sand with algae, 8 September 1902 (13 mm long, 2 mm wide, cephalic cage 1 mm long, 31 chaetigers). One specimen (SMNH-55733), collected during the Swedish South Polar Expedition 1901–03, Stat. 1, May Bay , Mouth of West Fjord, South Georgia Islands, on Macrocystis holdfasts, 3 May 1902 (28 mm long, 3.5 mm wide, cephalic cage 3.5 mm long, 34 chaetigers) .

Description

Holotype (MNHN-446) complete, whitish, tapering slightly posteriorly, with some parapodia previously removed ( Figure 4A ). Body scarcely papillated (papillae eroded); papillae forming small rounded sediment tubercles (40–50 per segment); each papilla long, subdistally swollen, mucronate (dorsal ones mostly lost), making noto- and neurochaetal lobes well defined, but distal portion of papillae mostly detached from the core ( Figure 4B, D ), more evident in posterior chaetigers ( Figure 4C ). It is 26.5 mm long, 3 mm wide, cephalic cage 2 mm long, 20 chaetigers.

Prostomium a low cone; four dark eyes, anterior ones larger. Caruncle well developed, with low marginal keels, central area slightly higher than the margins. Palps thick, corrugated, appearing annulated; palp bases rounded, small. Lateral lips well developed; ventral and dorsal lips not seen (to avoid further damage to the specimen). Branchiae thick; branchial groups with branchiae arranged in rows; each group with about 40 filaments. Nephridial lobes not examined to avoid further damage.

Cephalic cage chaetae as long as two-thirds body width; 18–20 neurochaetae, 26–28 notochaetae. Anterior dorsal margin of first chaetiger papillated. Chaetigers 1–3 of about the same length. Chaetal transition from cephalic cage to body chaetae abrupt; neurohooks present from chaetiger 2. Gonopodial lobes not seen.

Parapodia well developed, lateral; median neuropodia ventrolateral. Notopodial lobes ovoid projections, made by elongate subdistally swollen papillae, their distal part being detached, giving a hairy or loose appearance. Dorsal sediment tubercles much smaller than notopodial lobes (most eroded) ( Figure 4B ). Neuropodia conical lobes covered by a similar chaetal lobe, not covering the whole neurohook, with similar papillae ( Figure 4D ).

Median notochaetae arranged in a short transverse line; eight to nine multiarticulated capillaries per fascicle, as long as one-fourth to one-third body width, with articles long basally and medially, becoming shorter distally. Neurochaetae multiarticulated hooks from chaetiger 2. Handle articulation with two longer articles medially, proximal article about half as long as distal one, more distal articles shorter. Crest slightly darker, tapering, tip blunt, curved distally ( Figure 4E ).

Posterior end tapering ( Figure 4C ); pygidium with anus terminal, short muscular ring, no anal cirri. One specimen collected in May (SMNH-55733) had ova of about 125 Mm. Another specimen (MNHN-A184) has two parasite egg-masses in the cephalic area ( Figure 4F ); one is complete, oval, 1 mm long with about 10 eggs in line; another one broken. In both cases there is a thin membrane and a very thin, transparent, short peduncle attaching it to the flabelligerid anterior end.

Discussion

Flabelliderma gourdoni ( Gravier, 1906) n. comb. is unique in having hirsute notopodial lobes, which is due to the fact that their papillae have long mucrones and they are sediment-free. It includes F. pennigera Ehlers, 1908 ; the latter was described on the basis of having notochaetal lobes resembling feathered projections, which is precisely the diagnostic feature for F. gourdoni . On the other hand, F. pennigera was described as having neurohooks from chaetiger 3, not from chaetiger 2 as is the case in F. gourdoni . However, the second parapodia are ventrally displaced, giving the impression that first neurohooks appear in chaetiger 3, when the adjacent notochaetae are regarded as second chaetiger neurochaetae.

Distribution

Besides the type locality, it has been recorded in Antarctic and subantarctic areas in deep water (76–385 m).

Flabelliderma lighti n. sp.

( Figure 5 )

Flabelliderma essenbergae: Light 1978, p 685 –686, Figures 1–4 (partim, non Hartman 1961).

Type material

Eastern Pacific Ocean : holotype (CAS-168303) collected in Old Sealer’s Cove (Old Sealer’s Station), southeastern side of Isla Guadalupe (28 ° 539N, 118 ° 189W), Mexico, miscellaneous scrapings in low intertidal, associated with yellow sponge that turned red purple in preservation, staining the polychaete, 1 January 1975, W. L. Lee and A. J. Ferreira, coll.

Description

Holotype (CAS-168303) complete, red purple, fusiform with blunt ends, slightly damaged ( Figure 5A ). Body densely papillated, papillae grouped in tubercles, dorsally and laterally long, clavate, thin, smooth (about 20–22 per segment); ventrally densely papillated with smaller rounded tubercles. Papillae long covering noto- and neurochaetae, with adherent sediment particles ( Figure 5B, D ). It is 19 mm long, 4 mm wide (6 mm including notopodia), cephalic cage 1.5 mm long, 33 chaetigers (an anterior ventral dissection already made).

Prostomium high cone with four dark eyes (not clearly seen against the red purple colour). Caruncle present, wide basally, medially elevated, projected dorsally. Palps missing; palp bases rounded, large. Branchial groups with about 40 filaments. Two nephridial lobe scars, placed towards the dorsal margin, separated from the branchiae ( Figure 5C ).

Cephalic cage chaetae short, one-twelfth as long as body or two-thirds as long as body width (excluding notopodia); chaetae densely covered by papillae, difficult to count. Anterior dorsal margin of first chaetiger without papillae, probably eroded. Anterior notopodia without especially long papillae. Chaetigers 1–3 of about the same length. Chaetal transition from cephalic cage to body chaetae abrupt, neurohooks present from chaetiger 2. Gonopodial lobes not seen.

Parapodia well developed, placed on the body corners; median neuropodia ventrolateral. Notopodial lobes ovoid, rough projections, made by loosely packed globular papillae. Dorsal sediment tubercles thin, smaller than notopodial lobes, mostly of a single size; soft ( Figure 5D ). Most papillae cylindrical, with long distal nipplelike projections. Some large globular papillae outside the notopodial lobes. Neuropodia shorter lobes, masked by elongate papillae almost completely covering the neurohooks.

Median notochaetae arranged in a transverse short line, tips not exposed, four to five multiarticulated capillaries per bundle, as long as half body width, with short articles basally and medially, longer distally. Neurochaetae multiarticulated hooks from chaetiger 2, mostly a single hook per ramus. Handle articulation with three longer articles, proximal one shorter, the others slightly longer. Crest darker, tapering, acute, slightly curved distally ( Figure 5E ).

Posterior end tapering; pygidium with anus terminal, without anal cirri.

Discussion

Some of the specimens herein regarded as members of Flabelliderma lighti n. sp. and F. ockeri n. sp. were included by Light (1978) in F. essenbergae , which is a junior synonym for F. papillosa . These two species are different regarding the dorsal sediment tubercles, since they are soft, clavate, pedunculate in F. lighti n. sp., while they are stiff, with a wide base and sessile in F. ockeri n. sp.

Flabelliderma lighti n. sp. is closely allied to F. papillosa . As stated above, they differ in the relative size and number of dorsal sediment tubercles. In F. lighti they are smaller than the notopodial lobes and more abundant per segment, while in F. papillosa they are at least of about the same size as the notopodial lobes and less abundant per segment. Further, they come from different environments: F. lighti was associated with a low intertidal sponge, collected on a rocky shore, while F. papillosa is free-living in mixed bottoms, in crevices, in intertidal or subtidal depths.

Etymology

This species is named after William J. Light, who made important publications on spionids and maldanids, and especially solved some problems in the taxonomy of flabelligerids.

Distribution

Currently only known from the type locality in shallow subtidal rocky shores in Guadalupe Island, Mexico, associated with a yellow sponge .

Figures

Figure 1. Flabelliderma papillosa (Essenberg, 1922) n. comb. (A) Neotype (LACM-AHF 2187) in dorsal view; (B) neoparatype (LACM-AHF), anterior end in dorsal view; (C) another paraneotype, eversible anterior end in frontal view; branchiae and palps removed; (D) same, a complete median chaetiger in frontal view; (E) tip of neurohook from a median chaetiger. Scale bars: 1.5 mm (A); 1.0 mm (B); 0.5 mm (C, D); 90 Mm (E).

Figure 2. Flabelliderma berkeleyorum n. sp. (A) Holotype (USNM-40475) in dorsal view; (B) same, anterior end in dorsal view; (C) paratype, eversible anterior end in frontal view (palps and branchiae lost); (D) holotype, close-up of some median chaetigers, in dorsal view, showing the dorsal tubercles and notopodial lobes; (E) paratype, median parapodia showing the regularly constricted notopodial lobes; (F) paratype, tip of neurohook from a median parapodia. Scale bars: 1 mm (A); 0.4 mm (B); 0.25 mm (C, E); 0.33 mm (D); 40 Mm (F).

Figure 3. Flabelliderma claparedei (de Saint-Joseph, 1898) n. comb. (A) Non-type specimen (MNHN-449) in dorsal view; (B) holotype (MNHN-447), anterior end in dorsal view; (C) eversible anterior end (MNHN-448) in frontal view, distorted by compression; branchiae and palps removed; (D) close-up of the median region, in ventral view, showing the sediment tubercles (MNHN-449); (E) same, tip of neurohook from a median parapodium, surrounding cuticle and papillae removed. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 1.25 mm (C); 1.00 mm (D); 40 Mm (E).

Figure 4. Flabelliderma gourdoni (Gravier, 1906) n. comb. (A) Holotype (MNHN-446) in lateral view; (B) same, close-up of the anterior end in lateral view; (C) same, posterior end in lateral view; (D) same, close-up of papillae of the neuropodial lobe; (E) same, tip of neurohook from a median parapodium with surrounding cuticle and a papilla tip; (F) non-type specimen (MNHN-A184), anterior end in ventral view with two copepod egg-masses indicated by arrows; both removed, slightly enlarged as inserts above it. Scale bars: 3.8 mm (A); 0.8 mm (B); 1.0 mm (C); 110 Mm (D, E); 50 Mm (F).

Figure 5. Flabelliderma lighti n. sp., holotype (CAS-168303). (A) Dorsal view; (B) anterior end in dorsal view; (C) eversible anterior end in frontal view; branchiae and palps removed; (D) median body chaetigers, seen from below, showing a large globular papilla; (E) tip of a neurohook from a median parapodium, broken, with some papillae. Scale bars: 1.5 mm (A, B); 0.9 mm (C); 0.3 mm (D); 45 Mm (E).

Figure 6. Flabelliderma ockeri n. sp. (A) Holotype (LACM-AHF-536), dorsal view; (B) same, close-up of the anterior end, dorsal view; (C) non-type specimen (ECOSUR), eversible anterior end in frontal view, branchiae and palps removed; (D) median chaetiger from paratype (LACM-AHF-537), showing globular papillae in the notopodial lobe; (E) tip of a neurohook from a median parapodium, without cuticle or papillae. Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1 mm (B); 0.4 mm (C); 0.8 mm (D); 60 Mm (E).

Figure 7. Flabelliderma pruvoti (Fauvel, 1930) n. comb. (A) Holotype (MNHN-194), oblique lateral view; (B) same, close-up, lateral view of the anterior end; (C) same, ventral view of the lateral part of the body; (D) paratype (MNHN-195), tip of a neurohook from a median parapodium, without cuticle or papillae. Scale bars: 2 mm (A); 1.5 mm (B); 0.5 mm (C); 90 Mm (D).