Notophyllum foliosum (M. Sars, 1835)

Kato, Tetsuya & Pleijel, Fredrik, 2002, A revision of Notophyllum Örsted, 1843 (Phyllodocidae, Polychaeta), Journal of Natural History 36 (10), pp. 1135-1178 : 1145-1150

Notophyllum foliosum (M. Sars, 1835)

(gures 1, 3–5)

Phyllodoc e foliosa M. Sars, 1835: 60–61 , pl. 9, gure 26A–E.

Notophyllum foliosum: Grube, 1850: 305 ; Marenzeller, 1893: 7, pl. 2, gure 4; McIntosh, 1908: 46–50, pl. 45, gure 1, pl. 67, gure 5, pl. 77, gure 21; Fauvel, 1913: 270–271; Bergström, 1914: 120–123; Allen, 1915: 614; Ditlevsen, 1917: 53; Fauvel, 1923: 170–171, gure 61a–e; Bick and Gosselck, 1985: 216, pl. 18, gure 3a, b; Pleijel and Dales, 1991: 125–127, gure 42A–C; Pleijel, 1993: 9-12, gures 2–4, map 2; Hartmann-Schröder, 1996: 103–104, gure 37a–c.

Not Notophyllum foliosum: Uschakov and Wu, 1965: 151 , gure 1F; Uschakov, 1972: 169, pl. 8, gure 10 (5 Notophyllum sp. ).

Notophyllum longum Örsted, 1843: 26 , pl. 5, gure 78; Quatrefages, 1866: 153–154.

Notophyllum viride Örsted, 1843: 26 , pl. 5, gure 87; Quatrefages, 1866: 153.

Notophyllum polynoides Örsted, 1845: 409 , pl. 2, gure 12; Malmgren, 1865: 93, pl. 14,

gure 33; Quatrefages, 1866: 154.

Notophyllum alatum Langerhans, 1880: 311 , gure 47a–d; Saint-Joseph, 1888: 318–320, pl. 13, gures 193–196.

Notophyllum frontale Langerhans, 1880: 311 , gure 48.

Trachelophyllu m luetkeni Levinsen, 1883: 209–211 , pl. 7, gures 1–5.

? Eulalia obtecta Ehlers, 1864: 169–173 , pl. 7, gures 11–16.

Material examined. Norway: two specimens (ZMO-C-4453), Bergen ; three specimens (ZMO-C-3366), Manger ; six specimens (ZMO-C-4458), Herløy, Manger ; seven specimens (ZMO-C-4459), Manger , 20 fms ; two specimens (ZMUC-1014), Alversund, Bergen (syntypes of Trachelophyllum luetkeni ) ; four specimens, Trondheimsfjord , August 1995 , collection of F.P.; ve specimens ( SMNH 23285 ), Rödberg, Trondheimsfjord , 63ss28¾N, 10ss00¾E, 300–500 m, 24 January 1989 ; two specimens ( SMNH 23286 ), Rödberg, Trondheimsfjord , 300–500 m, 14 May 1985 ; four specimens ( SMNH 22506 ), Rödberg, Trondheimsfjord , 300–500 m, 8 August 1990 . Sweden: eight specimens, Koster area, Bohuslän , collection of F.P .; 11 specimens ( SMNH 22539 ), Väderöarna, Bohuslän , 40 m, 10 April 1990 ; three specimens ( SMNH 23278 ), between Vattenholmarna, Koster area, Bohuslän , ca 30–40 m, 23 April 1985 ; one specimen ( SMNH 23279 ), Koster area, Bohuslän , 25 May 1988 ; one specimen ( SMNH 23280 ), Kosterfjord, Bohuslän , 26 July 1988 ; seven specimens ( SMNH 23281 ), E Vattenholmen, Bohuslän , 30 m, 7 October 1985 ; three specimens ( SMNH 23282 ), Koster area, Bohuslän , 18 October 1990 ; one specimen ( SMNH 23283 ), StyrsöklaÊvet, Koster area , Bohuslän, 58ss54¾N, 11ss07¾E, 14 June 1965 . Faeroes: two specimens ( SMNH 23284 ), oOE Kaldbaksfjord , 25–40 m, 1 December 1988 ; four specimens ( SMNH 23287 ), Høgnabodi, N Torshavn, 62ss05¾N, 6ss33¾W, 20–40 m, 21 November 1988 . France: one specimen ( SMNH 23291 ), Dinard , Bretagne, 10 m, 17 May 1989 . Portugal: one specimen ( NMW Inv. 2418; wholemounted), Madeira (holotype of Notophyllum alatum ) ; one specimen ( NMW Inv. 2419; whole-mounted specimen), Madeira (syntype of Notophyllum frontale ) ; one specimen ( SMNH 23292 ), Galicia Bank, 42ss43.4¾N, 11ss45.1¾W, 770 m, 20 October 1987 . Italy: eight specimens ( SMNH 22604 ), Acitrezza, Sicily, 37ss33¾N, 15ss11¾E, 40 m, 14 May 1990 ; one specimen ( SMNH 23288 ), Acitrezza, Sicily, 37ss33¾N, 15ss11¾E, 40 m, 17 May 1990 ; two specimens ( SMNH 23289 ), Brucoli, Sicily, 37ss17¾N, 15ss11¾E, 24 m, 23 May 1990 ; one specimen ( SMNH 23290 ), Acitrezza, Sicily, 37ss33¾N, 15ss11¾E, 35 m, 18 May 1990 .

Description. For length and width measurements versus number of segments, see gure 5; up to 55 mm long and 5.2 mm wide for 113 segments (ZMO-C-4459). Body broad, of uniform width, dorso-ventrally attened; dorsum mostly covered by dorsal cirri. Prostomium rounded to pentagonal, about as long as wide, with anteroventral ciliated elongation and a pair of large, rounded eyes with lenses (gures 1A, 3). Length of paired antennae and palps two-thirds to four-thirds as long as prostomium. Median antenna four- fths up to twice as long as prostomium, inserted between eyes. Nuchal organs in adults with one to three lobes (gures 3, 5D; see Remarks); juvenile specimens (<5 mm long) with single lobes. Proboscis long, proximally about as wide as prostomium, distally slightly widened with lateral rows of rounded to conical papillae on each side (gure 1B); lateral rows absent from proximal-most part (gure 3C). Lateral papillae in smaller specimens often in single row; in larger specimens in several merged rows. Proximal part with group of two large and several smaller dorso-lateral papillae on each side. Proximal half of proboscis dorsally and ventrally covered with diOEusely distributed minute, rounded papillae 10–14 m m in diameter; density of ventral papillae higher than dorsal; proximal-most part with equally high density. Distal half dorsally and ventrally with large rounded papillae, 60–90 m m in maximum diameter (gure 1C). Terminal ring smooth, without papillae. Segments 1 and 2 dorsally narrow but distinct, together less prominent than segment 3. Segment 1, occasionally also segment 2, covered by prostomium in large specimens, dorsally distinct in juvenile specimens. Tentacular cirri of segment 1 reaching segment 5–6. Dorsal tentacular cirri of segment 2 and 3 reaching segment 8–11. Ventral tentacular cirri of segment 2 reaching segment 5–7, asymmetrical, distally gradually tapered; posteriorly directed. Segments 2 with ca 10 compound chaetae arising from ventral tentacular cirrophores. Segment 3 with small neuropodial lobes with ca 10 compound chaetae and small ventral cirri. Segments 2 and 3 with dorsal and ventral aciculae (gure 4B, C). Dorsal aciculae absent from segment 4 to 14–15 (gure 4D). Dorsal cirri of median segments cordiform in juveniles (gure 4I), broad reniform in larger specimens (gure 4E–G). Tips of dorsal cirri usually distinct in small specimens (<5–10 mm long), rare in middle-sized specimens (10–25 mm long), and absent in large specimens (> 25 mm long). Dorsal cirrophores dorsally prolonged, with single acicula (gure 1D). One or two capillary chaetae may be present. Neuropodial lobes with 25–40 compound chaetae. Ventral cirri reniform. Pygidial cirri attened, oval, slightly longer than wide. Pygidial papilla present (gure 1F).

Colour. Live specimens vary from bright to greyish yellow, usually with dense patches of darker pigment and white spots on dorsal cirri. Eyes dark brown ( Pleijel, 1993). Preserved animals yellowish to dark brown. Eyes blackish.

Biology. Mature specimens found in October in Sweden. Eggs dark blue-green, ca 100 m m in diameter ( Pleijel, 1993).

Habitat. Subtidally on bottoms with shell gravel and stones, from 10 to 1280 m depth.

Distribution. Atlantic coast of Europe, and Mediterranean (Sicily).

Remarks. Notophyllum foliosum diOEers from other Notophyllum in the combination of nuchal organs with one to three lobes, dorsally elongated dorsal cirrophores with capillaries, and long proboscis with two or three indistinctly separated rows of rounded papillae on each lateral side. The presence of distinct dorsal cirral tips in juveniles is known only in this species, but cannot be excluded from related taxa due to insu cient information.

Notophyllum foliosum from Sweden and Norway exhibits a wide range of variation, with specimens from deeper localities (300–500 m) having less bright coloration, longer antennae, palps and tentacular cirri, more elaborated nuchal organs, and larger dorsal cirri than specimens from more shallow waters. However, based on available specimens we are unable to conclude whether these diOEerences relate to phenotypic plasticity associated with depth, or whether several taxa are present. The matter merits further investigation.

Uschakov and Wu (1965) and Uschakov (1972) reported Notophyllum foliosum from the Yellow Sea, Sea of Japan, Kuril Islands and Bering Sea, but since the identi cations are based mainly on the number of lobes of the nuchal organs, we consider the records questionable, and temporarily exclude them from the geographical distribution.

Okada (1930) described egg incubation in N. foliosum , based on two specimens collected in September in the English Channel with ribbon-shaped cream-yellow egg masses. We consider the record doubtful since there are no subsequent observations from this common species, and since the specimens appear to have been too small to be sexually mature (12 mm long), and since the egg colour disagrees with other observations on N. foliosum . Judging from the shape and the colour of the egg masses they may have belonged to parasitic copepods.

In spite of the absence of type material for N. foliosum we have chosen not to designate any neotype. As noted above, Swedish and Norwegian specimens display a large variation in colour and morphology. If later studies indicate that several taxa indeed are present within this area, then a neotype designation may be better designated in association with this more detailed study.