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Zoologicheskii zhurnal 1992. 72 (11) : 128 - 132
short note
M, I, KISSELEVA
Biological Institute of the Southern Seas, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences,
Sevastopol, Ukraine.
New genus and species of a polychaete of the Chrysopetalidae from the
Black Sea.
The worms were transferred to me for determination by V. E Zaika, who
managed to rear them from the pelagic larvae, which are always found in the
central regions of the sea and earlier described as larva "B" and "C" (Kisseleva,
1959), but since then assumed to belong to the families Hesionidae or Dorvillidae
(Kisseleva, 1990). Murina (1986) determined these larva as Pelagiobia serrata
Southern, 1909 (family Lopadorhynchidae). After metamorphosis and settling of
the larvae on the bottom it stood clear, that they belong to the family
Chrysopetalidae and form a new genus and species thereof. Until now the
presence of the family Chrysopetalidae in the Black Sea has not been observed.
I use the opportunity to acknowledge V. E. Zaika for giving me the material
and G. N. Bysjinsko for consultation.
Genus Victoriella gen. n.
Type species: Victoriella zaikai sp. n.
D i a g n o s i s : Body oblong-oval, constitutes of a lesser number (10-12) of
segments. Head-rami anteriorly rounded, inserted at about the peristomial
segment. Two small antennae emerge from the anterior part of the prostomium
and two relatively stout palps, folded on the ventral side. Eyes not present. On
the peristomium there are two pairs of tentacular cirri, situated one above the
other, and biramous parapodia with dorsal and ventral cirri. The setae of these
parapodia are of two types: on the dorsal ramus - simple, slightly bent, spiny,
with transverse patterns, on the ventral ramus - simple, non-spiny, with a
marked attenuation at the tip. Parapodia on the following segments are
biramous, with ventral and dorsal cirri, with simple, transversely striated
spinigers on the notopodia and compound heterogomph setae on the
neuropodia. Proboscis barrelshaped, with teeth of platelet type. Anal ramus with
two cirri.
D i s c u s s i o n : The genus is close to Dysponetus Levinsen, 1879 (family
Chrysopetalidae). Nowadays there are six species known from the genus

Dysponetus (the systematical position of Chrysopetalum caecum Langerhans,
1880, which was erroneously, as Laubier 1964 convincingly argued, synonymized
with D. pygmaeus Levinsen, 1879, has until now not been defined). The
description of the genus Dysponetus is characterized by numerous
morphological characters, and is unified by their character of general presence of
three (or more) antenna, also by the structure of their parapodia and setae. All
species in the genus Dysponetus have biramous parapodia, by these notopodia
with simple toothed setae (in D paleophorus Hartmann-Schröder, 1974 besides
these there are a few paleae) and long dorsal cirri, situated under the setae;
neuropodia - with compound heterogomph setae and dorsal cirri. Neuropodial
ramus on the first segment is, as a rule, missing. In those cases where there is a
neuropodial ramus on the first segment (D. bulbosus Hartmann-Schröder, 1982)
it is without seta and ventral cirri. In the usual case the dental apparatus is of
stylet type.
In Victoriella the structure of parapodia and setae, beginning at the second
segment, are as in Dysponetus, which allows describing the genus to the family
Chrysopetalidae.
The basic characteristics of details in Victoriella that differs from all known
types in the genus Dysponetus is apperarent in the structure of the peristomial
segment. In Victoriella on this segment htere is besides a notopodial ramus with
typical toothed, lightly bent setae with transverse striation and long dorsal cirri
there is a neuropodial ramus of a well developed process type with a short
acicula, a bundle of special simple setae, growing finer to the distal end, and cirri,
of the same length as the neuropodial process or slightly exceeding this. More
than that, Victoriella has only two short antennae and a digestive apparatus
showing small plates and not stylets.
I estimate the morphological differences of the described Chrysopetalidae
important enough for a differentiation in a distinct genus.
Victoriella zaika Kisseleva, sp. n. 1
M a t e r i a l : Holotype: No. 1/47370 (1 ex), Paratypes: 2/47371 (4 ex). Stored at the
ZIN RAM, Sankt-Petersburg. Worms brought up from pelagical larva, collected
at the 4615 station (43°29'3" N, 37°35'1" E) on 130-100 m depth, 1990-09-07, on the
32nd tour of R/V "Professor Vodjanitskij".
D e s c r i p t i o n : Length of the holotype is ca. 1, width 0.3 mm; number of
segments 10. Prostomium inserted in the peristomial segment (fig. 1, A, B).
There are, on the prostomium, two short, thin antennae, far separated from each
other. On the lower side of the prostomium are two palps situated. (In living
1) named in honour of V. E. Zaika

Fig. 1. Victoriella zaikai: A - anterior end from dorsal side (prostomium folded), - anterior B end
from ventral side, V - posterior end from dorsal side, G - setae (a - acicula, - bsimple
dorsal seta, v -
compound ventral seta, g - simple seta from neuropodial ramus of the peristomial segment), D -
Digestive apparatus (a - left dental platlet on proborscis, b - preparation of dental platlet) (only
some setae on parapodia are depicted in A, , BV).
specimens the palps from time to time extend forward, situated between the
antennae). Eyes not present. Peristomium consists of two fused somites. On the
first of these there are two pairs of tentacular cirri ca. 0.08 and 0.06 mm in length,
situated one under the other, and dorsally a bundle of simple, bent, toothed on
the convex side of the setae, which are transversely banded. On the second
peristomial segment there are modified parapodia. Notopododial ramus with
long dorsal cirri, widened at the basal part and tapering in the distal part, with
acicula and simple, bent, toothed, transversely banded setae. Neuropodial ramus
at sight a well marked process on the ventral side of the segment, with acicula, a
bundle of simple setae, very attenuated at the distal end, and bottleshaped
ventral cirri exceeding in length the neuropodial process (fig. 1 B, G, g). Proboscis,
extending ca. two segments, muscular, barrelshaped, with teeth looking like
plates, size is equal to 0.020 mm (fig 1 D, a, b). Parapodia biramous, the notopodia
are noticeably shorter than the neuropodia. On both parapodial rami there are a
distinct acicula of 0.175 mm length (fig. 1 G, a). The distal end of the notopodial
acicula forms a small triangular process. A dorsal cirrus is situated at the side of

the distal end of the acicula, below the bundle of setae. It is widened at the basal
part and attenuated at the distal. Length of dorsal cirri is up to 0.120 mm. Setae of
the notopodia are simple, slightly bent, with teeth on the convex side and
transversely banded (fig. 1 G, b). Setae are in numbers of 13-15 situated in
bundles, diverging upwards from all sides. The longest seta measures 0.137 mm.
Neuropodia with ventral cirri of bottle shape and compound setae from the
neuropodial ramus. On the two anterior segments the ventral cirri emerges
from the base of the bundle on the neuropodial ramus, on all the following
segments from about the middle of neuropodia. The length of the ventral cirri is
much shorter than the dorsal and is 0.50 mm. The compound setae are of the
heterogomph type with delicate toothing and transverse patterns on the basal
part. The setae are laterally positioned in the horizontal plane. Their size vary:
the outer setae are shorter than the middle. The length of longest of the setae
measures 0.385 mm. In the central parts of the body there are 18-20 setae in a
bundle.
The pygidium is surrounded on both sides by parapodial processes of the
preceeding segments (fig. 1, V). At the end of the anal ramus there are two cirri of
bottle shape. Their length is equal to 0.027 mm.
The location in the Black Sea of the adult is not established.
N o t e s . Polychaetes of the genus Victoriella are small forms, but, obviously,
the number of segments might be greater than in our specimens. We have
several times noted, that individuals from different species, which have been
brought up in laboratory conditions, are smaller than inhabitants of natural
populations.
Fig. 2. Victoriella zaikai: A - metatrochophora (a - temporary seta)), B - old nektochaeta (b -
digestive apparatus of larva).

The presence of dorsal setae on the first peristomial segment, noted in the
holotype is, by all possibilities, a peculiarity of young individuals. In worms
containing gametes, the dorsal setae of the first peristomial segment is absent.
The generation of gametes comes from the notopodia, starting from the sixth
segment.
In adult specimens of V. zaikai, there is only one pair of dental plates, while in
the nektochaete there are two pairs. Obviously, the second pair of plates grows
into the tissue, so that their existence is barely visible.
Larvae. Metatrochophoras and nektochaetes of V. zaikai are found in the
plankton of the Black Sea. Larvae are present all over the year in the central parts
of the sea in the 100-150 m. layer
Metatrochophora (fig. 2 A). A very widened episphere hanging over a short,
narrowing hyposphere. The length of larva is 0.286 mm, the greatest width is
0.220 mm. At the top of the episphere is a convex skullish plate with small
bundles of cilia at the fringes. The cilia are also situated on the border between
epi- and hyposphere and on the posterior end. There are to the left and right on
the lower regions of the episphere rounded outgrowths carrying bundles of
simple, toothed setae, with transverse striation. (fig. 2 A, a). By irritating the
larvae or by fixating them the setae diverge in all directions. The longest setae
measures 0.300 mm. The larva are filled with nutritional material and looks
black in transparent light. Due to the wealth of encapsulated nutritional spheres
it wasn't possible to take a closer look at the internal structures of the larva.
Nektochaeta (fig. 2 B). In the plankton one finds nektochaetes with three to
five pairs of parapodia 0.336-0.509 mm in length. Prostomium rounded.
Peristomium with one pair of tentacular cirri in young nektochaetes and with
two pairs in older ones. Besides they have on the peristomial segment a bundle
of simple setae on the dorsal side and compound setae on the ventral side.
Young nektochaetes retains on the peristomium a bundle of temporary long
toothed setae with transverse striation. Parapodia biramous, with short dorsal
and long ventral rami. Notopodia with acicula, a bundle with simple toothed
setae with transverse striation and a long dorsal cirrus, situated below the bundle
of setae. Neuropodia with acicula, a bundle of compound heterogomph setae,
the basal part has transverse striation, and a ventral cirrus. Proboscis
barrelshaped with two pair of digestive plates (fig 2 B, b). Pygidium with two
cirri. There are, in young nektochaetes, ciliated belts on the segments and on the
anal ramus.
The larvae are filled with nutritional spheres and look hump-backed in
profile.

References
Kisseleva, M. I., 1959. Distribution of larvae of many-bristled worms in the
plankton of the Black Sea. Trudy sevastopol'. biol. Sta. 12 :160 - 167.
— 1990. On the absence of pelagic polychaete larvae in the Black Sea. Zool Zh. 69
(11) : 132 - 133.
Laubier, L., 1964. Contribution à la faunistique du corraligène. VI. Présence de
Chrysopetalum caecum Langerhans dans l'endofaune corraligène. Vie Milieu 15
(1) : 125 - 138.
Murina, V. V., 1986. On the presence of pelagic polychaete larvae in the Black
Sea. Zool Zh. 65 (10) : 1575 - 1578.
(N. B. The references below are translated from Russian, checking with
Zoological Record indicate that the correct version of the fairly recent Russian
references might be).
Kiselyova, M. I., 1990. On the absence of pelagic Polychaeta larvae in the Black
Sea. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal. 69 (11) : 132-133.
Murina, V. V., 1986. On finding of pelagic polychaete larvae in the Black Sea.
Zoologicheskii Zhurnal. 65 (10) : 1575-1579