Terebella tantabiddycreekensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1980

Nogueira, João Miguel Matos, Hutchings, Pat & Carrerette, Orlemir, 2015, Terebellidae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 484-576 : 501

Terebella tantabiddycreekensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1980

( Figs 11–12 )

Terebella tantabiddycreekensis Hartmann-Schröder 1980: 77 –78, figs 122–123.— Hutchings & Glasby 1988: 55 –56.

Material examined. AM W.47704, CReefs, LI–10–013, MI QLD 2191, intertidal reef walk at low tide from Loomis Beach to Palfrey Island, 14°41'01"S, 145°27'01"E, coll. Capa & Hutchings, complete specimen, in two pieces, anterior piece with 25 segments, with notopodia from segment 4, 7 mm long, ~ 1.1 mm wide at segment 23; posterior piece with 47 segments, 14.5 mm long, in excellent state of preservation; AM W.200075, Lizard Island lagoon, 14°40'55"S, 145°26'59"E, det. Hutchings & Glasby 1988.

Description. Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part with eyespots more concentrated laterally, continuing dorso-laterally as a single band of eyespots, with eyespots progressively becoming more separated, leaving wide mid-dorsal gap; distal part shelf-like ( Fig. 11 A–L). Long buccal tentacles, about as long as body length or longer, with regular transverse bars of paired dark spots ( Fig. 11 A–L). Peristomium forming lips, hood-like upper lip, short, nearly circular, as long as wide; lower lip developed, forming swollen cushion-like structure, divided in two parts by transverse line ( Fig. 11 A–D, F, I–J). Segment 1 narrow, forming low ventral lobe marginal to mouth; other lobes on anterior segments absent, but segment 2 with thickened anterior margin, protruding as a ventral crest ( Fig. 11 A–L). Anterior segments inflated dorsally. Paired dorso-lateral arborescent branchiae present on segments 2–4, each with short, dichotomously branching basal stem, ending by relatively long filaments; second pair of branchiae shorter and originating laterally to other pairs, which are nearly longitudinally aligned and about same size; first pair originating on anterior margin of segment 2, second on posterior margin of segment 3, almost side by side with branchiae of segment 4, which originate from the anterior margin ( Fig. 11 A–L). Ventral shields on segments 2–15, rectangular, somewhat crenulate on anterior segments, then smooth; progressively longer until around segment 10, about same width, progressively narrower from segment 11 to last, which is almost inconspicuous; after segment 16, shields replaced by mid-ventral groove extending posteriorly ( Fig. 11 B–D, F, I–J, M). Notopodia beginning on segment 4, extending until segment 39; notopodia short, rectangular; first pair slightly shorter than following pairs, first three pairs, on segments 4–6, inserted progressively more laterally, following pairs longitudinally aligned ( Fig. 11 A–B, E–H, J–L). Notochaetae in both rows distally serrated, those of anterior row alimbate, with blade at an angle with shaft, smooth and rounded at curvature, then with gently tapering serrated tip directed upwards; chaetae of posterior row narrowly-winged for short extension, with gently tapering serrated tip; same types of notochaetae throughout, notopodia with progressively fewer chaetae, posterior ones with single chaeta in each row ( Fig. 12 A–E). Neuropodia present from segment 5, as low, almost sessile ridges throughout ( Fig. 11 A–F, I–K, M). Neurochaetae throughout as shorthandled avicular uncini, arranged in double rows from segment 11 to posterior body, rows completely intercalated at mid-length of tori, progressively more separated towards edges, until back to back arrangement; uncini throughout with short triangular heel, distally pointed prow, nearly inconspicuous dorsal button at mid-length, and crest with 2 rows of secondary teeth ( Fig. 12 F–J). Large digitiform nephridial papillae on segments 2 and 3, obliquely aligned with notopodia of segments 4–6, those on segment 2 lateral to branchiae, anterior to branchiae on segment 3; large digitiform papillae on segments 6–7, between parapodial lobes ( Fig. 11 J–K) on a mature specimen. Pygidium crenulate, with rounded papillae ( Fig. 11 M). Tube unknown.

Remarks. This species was described by Hartmann-Schröder (1980) from Exmouth, on the NW Australian coast, from intertidal areas. Later, Hutchings & Glasby (1988) recorded it from Lizard Island. We provide an expanded description of the species with additional illustrations.

Type locality. Tantabiddy Creek, Exmouth, NW Australia.

Distribution. Widely distributed north of 32˚S on the west coast and about 35˚S on the east Australian coast, from intertidal to depths of 20 m and often in reefal environments.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Terebella tantabiddycreekensis, AM W. 47704, LI – 10 – 013: A – B. Anterior piece, right and left lateral views, respectively; C – D, G – H. Anterior end in progressively higher magnifications, ventral and dorsal views, respectively; E – F. Anterior end, right and left lateral views, respectively; I – L. Close ups of the anterior end, ventral, left and right lateral, and dorsal views, respectively; M. Close up of the posterior end, right lateral view. Numbers refer to segments. Abbreviations: ll = lower lip; P = basal part of prostomium; ul = upper lip; * = distal part of prostomium. Scale bars: A – B = 0.6 mm, C = 0.5 mm, D – F, L = 0.3 mm, G = 0.4 mm, H – K, M = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 12. Terebella tantabiddycreekensis AM W. 47704: A – B. Notochaetae, segments 8 and 15, respectively; C – E. Notochaetae of segment 35, general, chaetae from posterior and anterior rows, respectively; F – G. Uncini of segment 6 under higher magnifications; H – J. Uncini of segments 15, 29 and 69, respectively. Scale bars: A – B = 40 µm, C = 20 µm, D – F = 10 µm, G – J = 7 µm.