Iphione muricata (Lamarck 1818)

Iphione muricata (Savigny, 1818)

Polynoe muricata Savigny in Lamarck, 1818:308 [type-locality: Mauritius (Ile de France)].—Savigny, 1820:22, pl. 3: fig. 1.

Eumolope muricata.—Blainville, 1828:459.

Iphione muricata.—Kinberg, 1855[1856]:383; 1858:8.—McIntosh, 1885:61, pl. 9: fig. 7.—Gravier, 1901:226, text-figs. 232–239, pl. 9: figs. 129–135.—Treadwell, 1906:1154 [in part]; 1926a: 183.—Potts, 1910:341 [in part].—Horst, 1917:65.—Augener, 1922:5.—Fauvel, 1932:12.—Monro, 1939:168 [in part].—Day, 1951:14; 1962:628 [in part]; 1967:43, fig. 1.3a–f.—Storch, 1967:148, pls. 1–4.—Gibbs, 1971:123 [in part].

Iphione fimbriata Quatrefages, 1865[1866]:271 [type-locality: Torres Strait].

Iphione glabra Quatrefages, 1865[1866]:268 [type-locality: Mauritius].

Iphione ovata.—Haswell, 1883:276 [in part].—Treadwell, 1926b:5. [Not Kinberg, 1856.]

Iphione fustis Hoagland, 1920:605, pl. 46: figs. 4–8 [type-locality: Philippine Islands].—Hartman, 1938a: 107, fig. 35a; 1959:82 [“see I. muricata”].

Iphione cimex.—Treadwell, 1920:591. [Not Quatrefages, 1866.]

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—SOUTH AFRICA. Delagos Bay, near Johaca Island, Jul 1935, C. van der Horst, collector, 4 specimens (ZMA 2528; USNM 81940: identified by Horst, 1917).

MOZAMBIQUE. Inhaca Island, St. IN.4, 1 specimen (BMNH 1963.1.6.; id. Day, 1951).

MADAGASCAR. Diego Suarez and Nossi-Bé, under stones, D. McGregor, collector, 1 specimen (BMNH 1961.8.3; id. Day, 1962).

MAURITIUS. Ile de France, M. Mathieu, collector, holotype of Iphione glabra (MNHNP).

ZANZIBAR. Sand Banks, Pemba Island, 18 Nov 1901, C. Crossland, collector, 3 specimens (BMNH 1941.4.4.165–167; id. Potts, 1910; Monro, 1939).

MOMBASA. From F.A. Potts, 9 specimens (BMNH 1924.6.18.187–191; USNM 97380). Nyali, beneath loose coral boulders, D. McGregor, collector, 1 specimen (BMNH 1961.8.1; id. Day, 1962).

RED SEA. C. Crossland, collector, 7 specimens (BMNH 1941.4.4.168–172; USNM 97381; id. Monro, 1939).

SOUTH INDIA. Kottaymam, 2 Feb and 18 Mar 1971, Mrs. K. Srivastave and D.K. Massey, collectors, 2 specimens (USNM 81949). Gulf of Manaar, 2 specimens (BMNH 1928.4.26.889890; id. P. Fauvel, 1932).

BAY OF BENGAL. Andamans, South Point, Outram Island, shore, Investigator sta. 665, 1 specimen (BMNH 1938.5.7.3; id. Fauvel, 1932).

THAILAND (SIAM). Koh Pipidon, 3 Sep 1925, H.M. Smith, collector, 2 specimens (USNM 81938). Koh Tao, in coral, shoal water, 24 Sep 1928, H.M. Smith, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 81939).

NETHERLAND INDIES. Batavia Bay, West Java Province, C.P. Sluiter, collector, 3 specimens (ZMA 473, 475). S coast of Nias, off W coast of Sumatra, 1 specimen (ZMA 476). Moluccas (Spice Islands), NW of Kampong, Namatabung, Laguan Olendir, Seipry, Tanimbar, 08°07′S, 130°66′E, 0–3 m, 25 Jun 1970, L.M. Joll, collector, 1 specimen (WAM). Dutch New Guinea, Mios Woendi, Padaido Island, 2 Oct 1944, A.G. Humes, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 96001). Torres Strait, Hombron and Jacquinot, collectors, holotype of Iphione fimbriata (MNHNP).

AUSTRALIA. Northern Territory: Yirrkala, N.W. of Cape Arnhem, coral reef, Jul 12 and Aug 20, 1948, R.R. Miller and natives, collectors, 2 specimens (USNM 81945, 81946). Mandora, Darwin, low tide under rocks, 22 Nov 1977, N. Coleman, collector, 2 specimens (AMS W5432; USNM 81947).

Queensland: Eagle Cay, Palfrey Island off Lizard Island, 2–3 m, among dead coral, 17 Nov 1977, R. and M. Brock, collectors, 1 specimen (USNM 81948).

New South Wales: Albury Passage, Haswell, collector, 1 specimen (AMS 11282, as I. ovata Haswell, 1883). Southwest Australia: WSW Cape Jaubert, 15–22 m, Swedish Expedition, Jun, Jul 1911, E. MjÖberg, collector, 5 specimens (NRS 1832–1835; id. Augener, 1922). Western Australia: Kendrew Island: Dampier, under rocks, low tide, 14 Oct 1972, N. Coleman, collector, 1 specimen (AMS 5437); Blow Holes (Quobba), Carnarvon, 2 m, under rocks, 22 Jun 1972, N. Coleman, collector, 1 specimen (AMS 5452).

PHILIPPINES. Naw Wawa, Taiwan, Albatross Philippine Exp., 27 Jun 1910, 1 specimen (USNM 19308; id. Treadwell, 1926a). Jolo Island, 06°09′N, 120°58′E, 53 m, Albatross sta D5141, 15 Feb 1908, holotype of I. fustis (USNM 18941). Caguayan Point off east coast Leyte Island, 11 ° 19′N, 124°58′E, 15 m, Albatross sta D5205, 13 Apr 1908, paratype of I. fustis (USNM 18969). Tanguingui Island north of Cebu, 11 °24′N, 124°06′E, 55 m, fine sandy bottom, Albatross sta D5401, 16 Mar 1909, paratype of I. fustis (USNM 18968). Caguayan Point north of Cebu, Albatross sta, 16 Mar 1909, paratype of I. fustis (USNM 18970).

SULU ARCHIPELAGO. Tataan, Simaluc, Tawi Tawi group, shore, Albatross, 19 Feb 1908, 1 specimen (USNM 17589; as I. cimex by Treadwell, 1920). Linao Point, Gulf of Davao, 42 m, coral and sandy bottom, Albatross sta 5250, 18 May 1908, 1 specimen (USNM 17484, as I. cimex by Treadwell, 1920).

SAMOA. C.N. Eliot, collector, 4 specimens (USNM 81972; BMNH). D.S.Jordan, collector, U.S. Fish Commission, 1 specimen (USNM 81936). Pago, Pago, 2 specimens (USNM 81937).

FIJI. Suva, A.L. Treadwell, collector, 2 specimens (AMNH 1615; USNM 19192, as I. ovata by Treadwell, 1926b). SW side of Ovatova shallows, N coast of Vanna Levu, 18 Jul 1966, H.A. Rehder, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 81944).

WESTERN CAROLINES. Palau Island, Ngaremdin Reef, E side of Urukhapel, 07°13′09″N, 134°26′40″E, exposed boulder tract, 19 Aug 1955, F.M. Bayer, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 81943).

MARSHALL ISLANDS. Bikini Atoll, dredged in lagoon, 55–60 m, 29 Mar 1946, L.P. Schultz, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 81941). Bikini Atoll, 4 miles S of W end of Bikini, dredged in 51 m, 25 Apr 1946, J.P.E. Morrison, collector, 1 specimen (USNM 81942).

SOLOMON ISLANDS. Graham Point, Guadalcanal, under boulders in silty sand, 21 Sept 1965, P.E. Gibbs, collector, 19 specimens (BMNH 1970.113; USNM 97382).

MEASUREMENTS.—Species moderate in size, with 29 segments, ranging from 8 to 32 mm in length and from 6 to 16 mm in greatest width. Length × greatest width in mm of specimens examined measured as follows: from South Africa and Mozambique, 23–26 × 14–15; from Madagascar, 19 × 10; from Mauritius (holotype of Iphione glabra), 24 × 16; from Zanzibar, 25 × 14; from Mombasa, 14–25 × 10–15; from Red Sea, 10–24 × 7–14; from South India, 26–32 × 13–15; from Thailand, 12–23 × 7–15; from Netherland Indies, 12–23 × 8–13; from Torres Strait (holotype of Iphione fimbriata), 31 × 15; from Northern Territory, Australia, 16–21 × 9–11; from Queensland, Australia, 9 × 6; from New South Wales, 29 × 16; from SW Australia, 12–21 × 9–13; from Western Australia, 24–26 × 13–16; from Taiwan, 20 × 13; from Philippines (paratypes of Iphione fustis), 12–21 × 8–12; [holotype of I. fustis a young specimen, 6 × 5 mm with 26 (?) segments]; from Sulu Archipelago, 10–11 × 8–10; from Samoa, 28 × 15; from Fiji, 20–26 × 9–12; from Palau, 20 × 12; from Bikini, 11–17 × 8–10; from Solomon Islands, 8–24 × 6–13.

DESCRIPTION.—Mostly covered under general characteristics of Iphione. The 13 pairs of tightly imbricated elytra covering the dorsum are variable in coloration: yellowish, reddish, yellow with brownish streaks or dark lateral streaking, sometimes masked by foreign particles. The elytra are variable in shape along the body (Figures 1E,F, 4H–J, 5C). The polygonal or hexagonal areas, with secondary areolae, nearly cover the surface of the elytra, becoming smaller toward the lateral and posterior borders where several diagonal rows of larger conical spinous tubercles occupy some of the smaller areas. The larger conical tubercles have 1 to several distal spines, with shorter spines or roughened surface basally. Along the posterior border, the smaller areas are occupied by smaller spiny tubercles of variable development. Along the lateral borders, spinous papillae occur. They consist of a cylindrical column with a flexible base, with radiating spines along the column and distally with a group of long papillae. The lateral spinous papillae were extra long on the specimen from Bikini (Figure 5c).

The prostomium, anterior segments and pharynx follow the usual pattern in Iphione (Figures 1A,B; 2A–C; 3A–C; 4A–C; 5A). The anterior lateral extensions of the prostomium, forming terminal insertions for the lateral antennae, are fused basally to the medial facial tubercle and are free distally where they may be curved medially (Figure 1A) or widely separated when the pharynx is extended (Figure 3B). The median antenna is represented by a small occipital papilla hidden by the nuchal fold of segment 2 unless the fold is pulled back. On one of the specimens from Bikini Atoll, a well-developed style was present on a small papilla-like ceratophore (Figure 4A). A distinct antenna was not observed on any of the other specimens examined. The palps and tentacular cirri are about equal in length, the lateral antennae and ventral buccal cirri somewhat shorter. The paired dorsal nodules on the anterior segments are somewhat variable in shape and distribution, always a pair on segments 4 and 5 and sometimes additional pairs on more posterior segments. Delicate transverse crests or folds, extending between the dorsal tubercles, are found on segments 6 and 8 (Figures 3A,B, 4A).

The parapodia follow the general pattern of Iphione (Figures 2C–H, 4C–G). The bushy white bundles of feathery capillary notosetae extend slightly beyond the neurosetae and hide the neuropodia dorsally and anteriorly. The neurosetae of segment 2 and the lower neurosetae of segments 3 and 4 differ from the following neurosetae: they are slender, tapering to sharp tips, with a long region of close-set spinous rows (Figure 2D). The numerous copper-colored stout neurosetae have close-set spinous rows and slightly hooked bare tips (Figures 2H, 4G, 5B). The posterior end follows the general pattern in Iphione (Figure 1D).

DISTRIBUTION.—Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indo-Pacific, mainly intertidal and low water, associated with coral reefs.

Distribution: Pacific and Indian Oceans, the coasts of India (Fauvel, 1953); tropical Indo-Pacific, also in Australia in Kalk (1958).