Leodice antillensis (Ehlers 1887)

Eunice antillensis Ehlers, 1887

Eunice antillensis Ehlers, 1887:84–85, pl. 24: figs. 5–7 [in part].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Lectotype, one syntype of E. antillensis, MCZ 810, Blake sta 45, 25°23′N, 84°21′W, 185 m.

COMMENTS ON MATERIAL EXAMINED.—The original material of E. antillensis consists of three specimens. The one described here was illustrated by Ehlers (1887, pl. 24: fig. 6) and is here selected as lectotype for the species; one incomplete specimen consisting of ~35 setigers and devoid of antennae, branchiae, and all but the broken stubs of the setae; and one complete specimen described below as a new species, E. stanleyi.

DESCRIPTION.—Lectotype an incomplete female with 62 setigers; total length 30 mm; maximal width 3 mm; length through setiger 10, 7 mm. Body thick, cylindrical, anteriorly truncate.

Prostomium (Figure 12b) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, as deep as of the peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally truncate, dorsally flattened; median sulcus shallow. Eyes outside bases of A-II, black, overlapped by peristomial fold. Antennae in a deep horseshoe; A-I and II emerging close together, separated by a distinct gap from A-III, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles slender and tapering, with up to 24 cylindrical, somewhat irregular articulations. A-I to setiger 3; A-II to setiger 10; A-III to setiger 16. Peristomium cylindrical. Separation between rings distinct dorsally, visible ventrally; anterior ring ~ of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri reaching well beyond prostomium, as long as A-I, slender and digitiform, with 5 articulations.

Maxillary formula 1+1, 4+4, 6+0, 4+9, and 1+1.

Branchiae present, pectinate, distinctly shorter than notopodial cirri (Figure 12c), not reduced in mid-body region, erect. Branchiae from setiger 4 through setiger 36. Branchiae terminating well before posterior end. First and last 2 pairs single filaments, maximum 6 filaments. Stems tapering. Filaments digitiform.

Median acicular lobes distally truncate with aciculae emerging dorsal to midline. Pre- and postsetal lobes low, transverse folds. Ventral cirri without inflation in 3 anterior setigers. Anterior ventral cirri very thick, tapering from narrow bases. Median ventral cirri basally inflated. Bases ovate or spherical; narrow tips tapering. Postbranchial ventral cirri without basal inflations, tapering. Anterior notopodial cirri digitiform, with 4 or 5 articulations. In branchial region notopodial cirri very long, tapering to long slender tips, with 3 or 4 indistinct articulations. Postbranchial notopodial cirri (Figure 12a) considerably shorter than those in branchial region, with 2 or 3 articulations.

Limbate setae slender, marginally serrated. Shafts of pectinate setae (Figure 12g) wide, cylindrical. Blades tapering, flat. Both marginal teeth longer than other teeth, with ~12 teeth. Shafts of compound falcigers (Figure 12f) slightly inflated, marginally indistinctly serrated, without distal beaks. Appendages short, bidentate; teeth prominent Proximal teeth very much larger than distal teeth, tapering, directed basally. Distal teeth tapering, hooked, rather than smoothly curved. Guards symmetrically smoothly rounded, distinctly serrated basally, without mucros. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae paired, yellow; cross-section of shaft round, distally flattened and expanded into rounded tabs (Figure 12d). Subacicular hooks (Figure 12e) yellow, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 33, present in all setigers thereafter, paired in some setigers. Hooks tapering distally; heads large. Proximal teeth very much larger than distal teeth, slender, tapering, directed laterally. Distal teeth slender, tapering, nearly erect.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—All features associated with the posterior end, such as the shape of posterior parapodial features, pygidium, and anal cirri; the shape of Mx III and its relation to left Mx IV.

EXPECTED STATES OF SELECTED UNKNOWN FEATURES.—None.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 56, 58, 59. Unknown Characters: 1, 2, 4, 6, 38, 42, 67, 68.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.