Leodice afuerensis (Hartman 1944)

Eunice afuerensis Hartman, 1944

Eunice afuerensis Hartman, 1944:108–109, pl. 6: figs. 127–134.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, AHF 391-35, Islas Lobos de Afuera, Peru, 6°55′40″S, 80°43′40″W, 17 Jan 1935, shore, rock and algae.

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype complete female with 687 setigers; total length 720 mm; maximal width 12 mm at setiger 15; length through setiger 10, 19 mm; width at setiger 10, 10 mm. Anterior body cylindrical, truncate frontally, tapering slowly posteriorly, becoming dorsoventrally flattened. Anal cirri with moniliform articulations, as long as last 10 setigers; dorsal edge of pygidium crenulated.

Prostomium (Figure 7a) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, less than as deep as peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded, dorsally inflated; median sulcus deep. Eyes not observed. Antennae in a straight line, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. All ceratophores short, ring-shaped without articulations. Ceratostyles tapering, with ~20 short articulations; articulations not moniliform, except for distalmost ones. Antennae to middle of anterior peristomial ring. Peristomium ~3 times as long as prostomium with a distinct muscular lower lip. Separation between rings very well marked dorsally and ventrally, indistinct only for a short distance laterally; anterior ring ~ of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of anterior peristomial ring, medially inflated, without articulations.

Maxillary formula 1+1, 4+5, 4+0, 6+7, and 1+1. Mx III short, located behind left Mx II, forming part of distal arc with left Mx IV. Mx VI absent. Maxillae strongly calcified, brittle.

Branchiae (Figure 7d,e,l) pectinate, distinctly longer than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, erect. Branchiae from setiger 3 to second from last setiger. All branchiae luxuriously pectinate, with up to 25 slender filaments. Stems flexible, slender, cylindrical. Filaments longer than stems in most setigers and longer than notopodial cirri in all but the first 2–3 setigers.

Neuropodial acicular lobes rounded in anterior setigers, obliquely truncate in median and posterior setigers. Pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. First 3 ventral cirri thick, tapering. Ventral cirri basally inflated from setiger 4; free tips tapering in all setigers. Inflated bases retained in all but last setigers, forming broad, transverse welts with tips attached distally. Notopodial cirri medially inflated, with up to 7 articulations in anterior setigers; number and distinctness of articulations lost in first 20 branchial setigers.

Limbate setae longer than other setae, slender, narrow, marginally serrated. Large numbers of pectinate setae present. Anterior pectinate setae (Figure 7b) with thick, cylindrical shafts, furled, tapering; one marginal tooth distinctly thicker and longer than all other teeth; 12 teeth presen. Median and posterior pectinate setae (Figure 7f) with wide, flattened shafts. Blades furled, flaring. One marginal tooth longer, but not thicker than other teeth, with 20 teeth. True compound hooks present only in first 25 setigers, replaced by pseudocompound hooks in all other setigers. Shafts of compound hooks (Figure 7c) very coarse, tapering, without serrations. Appendages small, tapering. Both teeth similar in size, directed distally, tapering, slightly curved towards each other. Guards not seen. Pseudocompound hooks (Figure 7h,k) in one preacicular and one postacicular row, up to 5 hooks present in each row; setae oriented roughly in a fan in each row (not well illustrated). Hooks with distinct fused joints, represented by bends on one side and bulges on opposite side. Proximal teeth thicker and more distinctly tapering than distal teeth in most hooks. Distal teeth often distally hooked. All compound and pseudocompound hooks clear yellow. Compound spinigers absent. Aciculae paired, yellow, tapering; cross-sections round. Inferior aciculae coarser than superior aciculae, distinctly bent in anterior setigers. Superior aciculae coarser than inferior aciculae (Figure 7i) in far posterior setigers, but both similar in shape. Subacicular hooks (Figure 7g,j) clear yellow, bidentate. Hooks present from setiger 100, thereafter present singly in all setigers. Hooks slender, smoothly tapering. Proximal teeth much larger than distal teeth, triangular, directed laterally. Distal teeth slender, erec. Guards not seen.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Guards of compound and subacicular hooks.

EXPECTED STATE OF SELECTED UNKNOWN FEATURES.—Guards of compound hooks asymmetrically bluntly pointed, following outline of appendages closely, marginally smooth.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 56, 60. Unknown Characters: 13–14, 70.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—70,2.