Pherecardia distincta ( Hoagland, 1920 ), 2025

Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., Piotrowski, Christina N., Gustav, Leslie Harris & Paulay, Gustav, 2025, Revision of Pherecardia Horst 1886 (Annelida Amphinomidae), Zoosystema 47 (28), pp. 691-720 : 705-713

Pherecardia distincta ( Hoagland, 1920) reinst., n. comb.

( Figs 1 C-E; 2C, D; 8-14)

Hermodice distincta Hoagland, 1920: 612 , pl. 48, figs 13-15.

Hermodice pennata var. tutuilensis Treadwell, 1926: 2 .

Pherecardia striata – Fauvel 1935: 292 ( partim). — Hartman 1940: 207 ( partim). — Pillai 1965: 121, fig. 4F-H ( non ( Kinberg, 1857)).

Pherecardia polylamellata de Silva, 1961: 170 , fig. 4.

DIAGNOSIS. — Pherecardia with longitudinal stripes of variable width and length along dorsal surfaces of body. Notopodia with a black distal ring. Notochaetae moderately abundant, shorter than dorsal cirri along anterior chaetigers.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype of Hermodice distincta Hoagland, 1920 . Philippines • 1 specimen; Mindanao Island, Misamis Oriental, Macajalar Bay, Suluan Point , Opol ; USFS Albatross ; unnumbered station; 2-4 m depth; after dynamite explosion (original label indicates “EL”, and identification label indicates “Electric Light”), 4.VIII.1909; USNM 18953.

Paratype of Pherecardia polylamellata de Silva, 1961 . Sri Lanka, Gulf of Manaar • 1 specimen;; Ceylon Pearl Banks; no further data; NHML 1962.14 .1 .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. — Madagascar • 1 specimen; Nossy Vorona, off ENE side; 13°25’27”S, 48°21’15”E; 4 m depth; broken reef, extracted from large, dead Porites ; 15.V.2008; A. Anker, G. Bakary, E. Boissin, H. Bruggemann, T. Horeau, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay & T. Werner leg.; UF 749 (complete; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, often branching, thinner towards notopodia; some parapodial areas and branchiae maculate; anterior and posterior eyes of similar size, not protruded; caruncle with median ridge complete, with 6-7 pairs of lateral smooth lobes, with venation; notopodia with distal black rings; pygidium with anus prolapsed, anal plate semicircular, slightly notched; 150 mm long, 20 mm wide, 74 chaetigers) • 1 specimen; Nossy Vorona, off ENE side; 13°25’27”S, 48°21’15”E; 4 m depth; broken reef, extracted from large, dead Porites ; 15.V.2008; A. Anker, G. Bakary, E. Boissin, H. Bruggemann, T. Horeau, F. Michonneau, G. Paulay & T. Werner leg.; UF 751 (complete; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, often branching, thinner towards notopodia; some parapodial areas and branchiae maculate; anterior and posterior eyes of similar size, not protruded; caruncle with median ridge complete, with seven pairs of lateral smooth lobes, with venation; notopodia with distal black rings; pygidium slightly damaged, anus prolapsed, anal plate globose, margin entire; 90 mm long, 14 mm wide, 55 chaetigers) .

Mascarene Islands, La Réunion • 1 specimen; Saint Leu , Maison Verte, Cimetière; 21°11’36”S, 55°16’56”E; 8-9 m depth; fore reef, within dead digitate Acropora ; 13.VIII.2007; H. Bruggemann, N. Hubert, F. Michonneau & G. Paulay leg.; UF 655 (anterior fragment; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, dorsal ones wider, thinner towards notopodia; not maculate; anterior eyes three times as large as posterior ones, slightly protruded; caruncle with median ridge complete, with seven pairs of lateral pinnate lobes; notopodia with distal black rings; 21 mm long, 5 mm wide, 28 chaetigers) .

Gulf of Thailand • 1 specimen; Thailand , Chantabun; no further data; MNHN A431 (complete; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, especially from chaetiger 12 where some stripes become wider than others; venter with midventral thin bluish line; caruncle with 10 pairs of crenulated lobes; median antenna 1/3 as long as caruncle, slightly larger than lateral antennae and palps; eyes large, protruded from prostomial margin; anus terminal, anal plate medially notched; body 103 mm long, 15 mm wide, 82 chaetigers) .

Vietnam • 1 specimen; Nha-trang ; no further data; MNHN A398 (body twisted, anterior end heavily contracted; dorsal stripes fading, especially thinnest ones; midventral line faded; caruncle with 10 pairs of lateral crenulate lobes; median antenna lost, upper lips separate lateral antennae; eyes protruded from prostomial margins; anus terminal, anal plate rounded, not notched; body 62 mm long, 15 mm wide, 74 chaetigers) .

Indonesia • 1 specimen; Java; “ Outer Islands Archipelago ”; no further data; ZMA V.POL. 1071 (epitoke, progressively wider medially and posteriorly; dorsal stripes irregular; eyes protruded from prostomial margins; caruncle with 10-11 lateral rugose (pinnate) lobes; median antenna 4/5 as long as caruncle; some median and posterior intersegmental areas broken, exposing inner organs; venter with a blackish, discontinuous midventral line; posterior region in regeneration, pygidium damaged; body 116 mm long, 13 mm wide, 70 chaetigers) • 4 specimens; Java Bay, near Batavia, Eil Edam ; 19.IX.1930; Museum Buitenzorg, J. Versvey leg.; ZMH V12095 (soft, apparently spent epitokes based on the amount of foreign material accumulated on chaetae; longitudinal stripes irregular, with variable width and length, wider mid-dorsally, thinner marginally; stripes visible ventrally along a few chaetigers; eyes protruded from prostomial margins; caruncle with 8-10 pairs of lateral foliose, pinnate lobes; caruncle median ridge base and ridge areolated; median antenna 1/2-2/3 as long as caruncle, slightly longer to twice longer than lateral antennae and palps, both of similar shape and length; body 28- 50 mm long, 8-12 mm wide, 45-46 chaetigers • 3 specimens; Poeloe ( Pulau) Weh; 1902; G.A.Y. van den Samde leg.; no further data; RMNH VER.1297 (twisted, two without posterior region; two females, ovigerous, one male epitoke; dorsum with purple to blackish longitudinal, rather regular stripes; eyes large, very close to each other on each side, not protruded from prostomial margins; notopodia with distal black rings; male epitoke with caruncle median ridge rugose, with 12-13 lateral foliose lobes; base of median ridge and supraocular areas between posterior eyes with low lobes; females with caruncle median ridge smooth, without additional lobes between posterior eyes; parapodia with many chaetae, capillaries not abundant; female epitoke without pygidium, with egg-sac extruded from last chaetiger; 75 mm long, 17 mm wide, 77 chaetigers; male epitoke; pygidium tapered, anus terminal, anal plate rounded; 108 mm long, 13 mm wide, 96 chaetigers).

Philippines • 1 specimen; Lubang Islands, Bahura Reef, N of Lubang Island; Sta. LB-003; 13.0°51.0’53.3”N, 120.0°11.0’31.6”E; 0-5 m depth; 6.IX.2011; B. Moore leg.; CASIZ 185402 (complete; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, often branching; notopodia with distal black ring; anterior eyes two times as large as posterior ones, not protruded; caruncle with median ridge complete, with 7-8 lateral pinnate lobes; pygidium with anus prolapsed, anal plate truncate, entire; 86 mm long, 9 mm wide, 71 chaetigers).

Mariana Islands • 1 specimen; Guam ; right side of Cocos Island; no depth data; rubble; 23.IV.1999; G. Paulay leg.; UF 22 (complete, regenerating posterior segments; pharynx fully exposed; dorsal longitudinal stripes of differing width along segments, lateral stripes thinner; integument without maculae; notopodia with distal blackish rings, better defined along anterior segments; anterior eyes slightly larger than posterior eyes, barely protruded from prostomial margins; caruncle pale, with median ridge complete, with 11 pairs of lateral pinnate lobes; median antenna without tip, half as long as caruncle; pygidium with anus terminal, anal plate indistinct; 112 mm long, 20 mm wide, 74 chaetigers) .

Hawaii • 1 specimen; Oahu, Kaneohe Bay, NW end of Ahu’olaki Island ; the Sand Bar ; 21°28’26”N, 157°49’11”W; 0-2 m depth; 22.V.2017; Bioblitz team leg.; UF 5343 (without pygidium, regenerating posterior end, cut into two sections, left parapodium of chaetiger 8 removed for study; longitudinal brown stripes irregular, some wide, others narrow; notopodia with distal brown ring; anterior eyes larger than posterior eyes, protruded from prostomial margin; caruncle whitish, venation barely darker, with 12-14 pinnate lateral lobes, median ridge discontinuous; median antennae 2/3 as long as caruncle; anterior fragment 20 mm long, 16 mm wide, 13-14 chaetigers; posterior fragment 41 mm long, 15 mm wide, 28 chaetigers) • 1 specimen; Oahu, Kaneohe Bay ; 21°30’0”N, 157°48’0”W; 0-20 m depth; 21.V.2017; Bioblitz team leg.; UF 5420 (anterior fragment, markedly contracted, bent ventrally; dorsal longitudinal stripes irregular, alternating wide and narrow, thinner stripes towards parapodia; notopodia with distal brown rings; anterior eyes larger, with lenses, not protruded from prostomial margin; caruncle whitish, without median ridge, with 7-8 lateral lobes per side; median antennae without tip, half as long as caruncle; fragment 32 mm long, 12 mm wide, 39 chaetigers) .

New Caledonia • 1 specimen; Mathew Island , Northwest side; 22°20’29”S, 171°21’1”E; boulders and large rocks on black sand; 5 m; 1.VIII.2017; S. Hannam, A. Reid, C. Bedford, & I. Middleton leg.; AM 51661 (juvenile, distorted due to label compression; longitudinal anastomosing stripes dorsally, ventrally visible along a few anterior chaetigers; caruncle grayish, with thin anastomosing stripes, 2/3 as wide as anterior end, with four lateral foliose, rugose lobes; median antenna 1/5 as long as caruncle; chaetae not removed to avoid further damage; body 13.5 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, 31 chaetigers) .

French Polynesia • 3 specimens; Society Islands, Tahiti, Papeete Harbour ; swimming at night; Crossland Pacific Expedition 1923- 24; V.1923; B. Grey leg.; NHML 1941.4.4.146-152 (epitokes, twisted, without posterior region, gametes and debris adhered, stained pink the formalin solution (“formol in which they were preserved pink; under lens this seen to be eggs and sperm” as indicated by Monro 1939: 167); dark purple longitudinal stripes, becoming more irregular medially and posteriorly, visible ventrally; eyes not protruded from prostomial margin; caruncle grayish (pale green after Crossland), contracted, with 11-12 lateral foliose lobes; caruncle median ridge with base smooth; median antennae 1/4 as long as caruncle; eyes larger than in non-epitokous specimens, of similar size; one parapodium of each specimen removed for comparing cirri development; notopodial lobes blackish, dorsal cirrophores 3 times wider and about as long as cirrostyles; body 54-165 mm long, 13-20 mm wide, 52-73 chaetigers) • 5 specimens; Society Islands, Tahiti, Crossland Pacific Expedition , 1923- 24; C. Crossland leg.; no further data; NHML 1941.4.4.153-157 (3 complete, 2 without posterior end; longitudinal brownish stripes along dorsum, less regular posteriorly or ventrally; notopodial lobes blackish; caruncle with fine stripes along ridges of lateral lobes, with 8 lateral foliose lobes; median antenna 3/4 to 4/5 as long as caruncle; posterior end tapered, anus terminal, anal plate short; body 56-76 mm long, 3.5-6.0 mm wide, 53-54 chaetigers) . Panama • 8 specimens; Coiba National Park, Isla Coibita, North of Smithsonian beach house, small islet connected by causeway; 07°38.036’N, 81°41.847’W; subtidal, dead Pocillopora ; 16.III.2005; L. Harris & I. Wehrtmann leg.; LACM-AHF 14779 (complete specimens, some regenerating anterior or posterior ends; irregular longitudinal stripes dorsally and black rings in notopodia; median antenna as long as caruncle in smallest and largest specimens; body 22-78 mm long, 4-9 mm wide, 34-61 chaetigers) • 2 specimens; Taboga Island, Taboga Channel ; with an associated polycladid flatworm, 19.II.2007; A. Anker leg.; LACM-AHF 14780 (irregular longitudinal stripes dorsally and black rings in notopodia; largest one regenerating posterior region; body 30-57 mm long, 7-12 mm wide, 40-45 chaetigers) • 2 specimens; Secas Islands; RV Velero III ; Sta. 454; 07°57’10”N, 82°00’45”W; shore, tide flats, coral; 6.II.1935; LACM-AHF 14781 (complete specimens; irregular longitudinal stripes and black rings in notopodia; median antenna 1/2-3/4 as long as caruncle; caruncle with eight pairs of lateral lobes; body 45-72 mm long, 7-10 mm wide, 47-52 chaetigers) • 1 specimen; Gulf of Chiriqui, Coiba National Park; Isla Coibita , SE of Smithsonian beach house; causeway connecting third island; 7°41’38”N, 81°48’28”E; in dead Pocillopora ; 16.III.2005; L. Harris & I. Wehrtmann leg.; LACM-AHF 14782 (fragmented in two pieces, anterior end in regeneration; irregular longitudinal stripes, notopodia with black ring; not measured) • 7 specimens; Secas Islands; Panamá; RV Velero III ; Sta. 447; 07°57’10”N, 82°00’45”W; shallow water, coral; 4.II.1935; LACM-AHF 14783 (complete, some regeneration anterior or posterior regions, with little or no pigmentation, some specimens with asymmetrical caruncles; irregular longitudinal stripes dorsally and black rings around notopodia; body 26-92 mm long, 5-11 mm wide, 30-66 chaetigers) • 2 specimens; Gulf of Chiriqui; Uva Island; Canteras Islands ; 3 m depth; feeding on Acanthaster ; 22.VI.1978; P. W. Glynn leg.; LACM-AHF 14784 (complete, heavily contracted, bent ventrally; irregular longitudinal stripes, and black ring around notopodia; body 45-54 mm long, 10-12 mm wide, 42-48 chaetigers) • 3 specimens; Taboga ; Dr Th. Mortensen’s Pacific Expedition 1914-1916; shore at low tide; T. Mortensen leg.; NHM 1928.9.13.15-17 (complete specimens, regenerating posterior region; smallest one smashed medially; median antenna 1/4 to 1/3 as long as caruncle (tips lost); caruncle with 6-7 to 7-8 pairs of lateral lobes; pygidium with anus terminal, anal plate round or truncate (barely bifid); body 68-105 mm long, 8-10 mm wide, 51-61 chaetigers) • 2 specimens; Taboga ; from colony of Pocillopora ; S. Y. St. George Expedition 1923-1924; C. Crossland leg.; NHML 1932.12.24.269-270 (complete specimens; largest bent laterally; longitudinal stripesbest preserved in largest specimen; median antenna 4/5 as long as caruncle; caruncle with 7-8 or 9-10 pairs of lateral lobes; pygidium with anus terminal, anal plate round; body 29-72 mm long, 5-9 mm wide, 37-55 chaetigers) .

Colombia • 4 specimens; Gorgona; S. Y. St. George Expedition 1923-1924; from coral; C. Crossland leg.; NHML 1932.12.24.265- 268 (soft, without posterior end, two with duplicate parapodia at chaetigers 10/11, one with pharynx exposed; dorsal longitudinal stripes better preserved in largest specimen; median antenna nearly as long as caruncle; caruncle with 7-8 or 9-10 pairs of lateral lobes; body 31-70 mm long, 5-12 mm wide, 35-43 chaetigers) .

OTHER MATERIAL. — Maldives • https://www.inaturalist.org/ observations/150011379 southern Maldives (approximately 2°1’52”N, 73°31’13”E), (longitudinal stripes brownish, irregular, vary in width and shape along dorsal segments; blackish ring in notopodia distinct) .

DESCRIPTION OF TYPE SPECIMENS

Holotype of Hermodice distincta (USNM 18953) complete, anterior end damaged, with an anteroventral dissection, folded over in two posterior sections; right parapodia of chaetigers 6 and 14 previously removed (lost), left parapodium of chaetiger 20 removed for observation (retained in container). Dorsum with longitudinal stripes faded almost completely, wider stripes medially, thinner stripes lateral ( Fig. 9A). Dorsal and ventral cirri exposed, tapered, pale. Many chaetae broken. Venter with one thin, almost complete black line. Body 132 mm long, 12 mm wide, 87 chaetigers.

Prostomium bent ventrally, ovoid, wider than long, anterior margin and longitudinal lips entire, ventrally restricted to chaetiger 1 (ventral dissection reaching its anterior margin). Lateral antennae and palps of similar length. Median antenna directed anteriorly, tip broken ( Fig. 9B). Eyes black, of similar size, protruded from prostomial margins. Mouth opening between chaetigers 2-3(4), damaged after ventral dissection.

Caruncle pale, reaching chaetiger 3, 2/3 as wide as anterior end; median ridge cut along caruncle length, with 10 pairs of lateral foliose lobes, blades pinnate.

Parapodia biramous; notopodia cylindrical with distal black ring, including chaetae and dorsal cirri ( Fig. 9C), barely visible dorsally ( Fig. 9E) in markedly bent portions along posterior regions. Dorsal cirrophores about as long as cirrostyles throughout body. Branchiae arborescent, each with 3-4 short main stems, with abundant filaments, progressively reduced in number posteriorly. Notochaetae including harpoon-chaetae ( Fig. 9D, left), and abundant smooth capillaries. Neuropodial lobes subcylindrical, neurochaetae arising directly from neurochaetal lobe. Ventral cirri with cirrophore 1/3 as long as cirrostyle in anterior and median chaetigers, 1/4 as long in posterior ones. Abundant capillary neurochaetae, acicular spines with slightly bent tips, some with tiny subdistal denticles ( Fig. 9D, center); neuraciculae subdistally swollen, tapered ( Fig. 9D, right).

Posterior region tapered ( Fig. 9F); anus terminal, anal plate minute, rounded.

Paratype of P. polylamellata (NHML 1962.14.1) complete, regenerating posterior region; body brownish with irregular, longitudinal stripes barely visible along anterior chaetigers ( Fig. 10C); palps and dorsal cirrostyles blackish; thin darker line midventrally along body; first right parapodium, notopodia of chaetiger 13 and 28, and neuropodia of chaetiger 15 and 28 previously removed; right parapodium of chaetiger 25 removed for observation; body 195 mm long, 15 mm wide, 91 chaetigers.

Prostomium ovoid, wider than long; lateral antennae positioned on round projections, ceratostyles lost, ceratophores separated by dorsal longitudinal ‘lip’ projection reaching about half prostomial length ( Fig. 10B, restricted to chaetiger 1 ventrally. Palps biarticulate, positioned in a constriction between the projection of dorsal lips. Median antenna lost. Eyes black, globular, anterior eyes slightly smaller than posterior ones, both protruded from prostomial margins. Mouth opening between chaetigers 2 and 4.

Caruncle pale, nearly reaching chaetiger 5, 1/3 as wide as anterior end; median ridge slightly damaged, extending throughout caruncle length ( Fig. 10A), with 10-11 lateral foliose lobes, corrugated (pinnate).

Parapodia bearing arborescent branchiae with abundant filaments from chaetiger 1 to posterior segments, as long as dorsal cirrophores ( Fig. 10C). Notopodia cylindrical with dorsal cirrophores 4-5 times wider and slightly shorter than cirrostyles, notochaetae rise from a protruded cone, surrounding dorsal cirrophores with dorsal cirri at apex of the cone ( Fig. 10D); notopodia with a barely visible distal black ring ( Fig. 10E). Neuropodial lobes subcylindrical, neurochaetae arising from between these lobes. Ventral cirri with cirrophores globose, about twice wider than and 1/4-1/5 as long as cirrostyle.

Chaetae broken, damaged because of prolonged exposure to formalin ( de Silva 1961: 171).

Posterior end tapered; anus dorsal, extended along last three chaetigers; anal plate round.

DESCRIPTION OF EPITOKES

Three epitokes (NHML 1941.4.4.146–152), showing little modifications for swimming along median chaetigers ( Fig.11); notopodia and neuropodia massive, with dorsal cirri slightly longer than ventral cirri, ceratophores and ceratostyles cylindrical; notopodia with black distal rings, visible once branchiae contract and expose the tips of notopodia ( Fig. 11A) or if branchiae are displaced ( Fig. 11B, C).

VARIATION

Specimens with well-preserved color pattern have wider longitudinal stripes along mid-dorsal region and thinner stripes laterally, together with distinctive black rings in the notopodia. This pattern is not size-dependent; the same characters are observed in small ( Fig. 12A), medium ( Fig. 12C), and large ( Fig. 12E) specimens, and occur along the body, although longitudinal stripes become progressively thinner posteriorly, where they become of similar width along each segment; this pattern is shown in small ( Fig. 12B), medium ( Fig. 12D), and large specimens ( Fig. 12F).

The caruncle has 8-10 foliose lobes, and small specimens exhibit distinctive venation along each lobe ( Fig. 13B), with pigmented areas transitioning into furrows such that the regular rugosity results in a pinnate appearance to each lobe ( Fig. 13B, E). Another variations are found in eye and caruncular development.

A small 28 mm long specimen ( Fig. 13A) has dorsal longitudinal stripes of differing length and width along anterior segments. The prostomium has black eyes protruded from the prostomial surface ( Fig. 13B), and despite its size the caruncle has nine pairs of lateral lobes. A larger, 50 mm long specimen has the same pattern of irregular dorsal longitudinal stripes ( Fig. 13D), eyes more clearly protruded from the prostomial surface ( Fig. 13E), and the caruncle has 11-12 pairs of lateral lobes. The posterior region in both specimens ( Fig. 13C, F) share similar pigmentation patterns, with discontinuous longitudinal striping and thinner stripes near the parapodia, as shown in other specimens referred to above.

The number of longitudinal dorsal stripes decreases with body size, and stripes are thinner in smaller specimens ( Fig. 14A), becoming wider and more irregular, and often stripes are narrower adjacent to parapodia ( Fig. 14D); however, the unpigmented spaces between stripes are obviously narrower near parapodia in all cases figured ( Figs 13D; 14D). The prostomium is more easily observed in the larger specimen with anterior eyes protruded from the prostomial surface. The caruncle has lateral pinnate lobes, but in the two specimens figured in Figure 14 the median ridge is not fully developed and is even missing in the smaller specimen, such that counting the lobes is problematic; there are about eight lobes in the smaller specimen ( Fig. 14C), and about 14 in the larger one ( Fig. 14F), in which the posterior median ridge is visible but the middle section is missing. The interramal belt is indistinct ( Fig. 14B, E), with this area smoother than in P. striata . Branchiae are abundant and although they have paler tips, they are not as dark as in P. striata . Notopodia are protruded muscular cylinders, each with a distinct blackish distal ring ( Fig. 14B, E). Notochaetae are abundant but shorter and less numerous than in P. striata , surrounding the dorsal cirri upon notopodial contraction, with dorsal cirri having dorsal cirrophores as long as the cirrostyles or up to twice longer. The interramal belt is less plicate with no maculae ( Fig. 14H, I) as indicated above, no large glands are visible in the corresponding body wall. Neurochaetae include denticulate capillaries and aciculars with a small distal tooth. Subdistal denticles are barely visible, even in the upper chaetae ( Fig. 14J).

REMARKS

Pherecardia distincta can be distinguished from P. striata as indicated above. The main differences rely in the pigmentation pattern; in P. distincta the longitudinal stripes are irregular, varying in width and length, and notopodia have a blackish ring, whereas in P. striata the longitudinal stripes are rather regular, having similar width and length, and notopodia have a darker pigmentation along their anterior surfaces than along posterior ones. In addition, these two species are separated by 22.4-23.5% K2P distance in COI ( Fig. 8). Intraspecific variation between the two sequenced P. distincta is 1.2%, while it ranges between 0.3-2% in P. striata .

Pherecardia distincta ( Hoagland, 1920) was described as having irregular blue-gray streaks and a dorsal chaetal “bundle borne on stout darkly pigmented lobe, also bearing dorsal cirrus.” Hoagland’s illustration of the anterior end shows eyes protruded from the prostomial margins, median antenna slightly longer than the laterals or palps, and the caruncle with 10 pairs of lateral, pinnate lamellae. Two of the labels with the holotype indicate the specimens were caught with electric light, suggesting that it was a swimming epitoke.

Soon after its description, Augener (1927: 123) regarded P. distincta as a junior synonym of P. striata , because he found no differences in chaetae and regarded pigmentation pattern and stripes to be variable; Augener was following and expanding on Ehlers’ (1920: 13) synonymy. Hartman (1959: 134) regarded P. distincta as ‘questionably P. striata .’

Pherecardia polylamellata de Silva, 1961 was described (with specimen size not specified), as lacking pigmentation and having dorsal cirri with thicker cirrophores, and with dorsal cirri and branchiae having blackish tips. However, as indicated above, the type specimens exhibit remaining dorsal pigmentation as diffuse irregular longitudinal stripes, and notopodia have barely pigmented black distal rings.

DISTRIBUTION

From the Western Indian Ocean to the Eastern Pacific, including Hawaii and French Polynesia, in shallow water, coral or rocky bottoms.