A Review of the Genus Eunice - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

NUMBER 523 249
DESCRIPTION.—Body cylindrical and very slender.
Prostomium distinctly shorter than peristomium, about as
wide as peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded,
dorsally inflated; median sulcus shallow. Presence of eyes not
indicated. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in
thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without
articulations. Ceratostyles slender and tapering, smooth or
faintly articulated. A-I to posterior peristomial ring; A-II to
setiger 7; A-III to setiger 18. Separation between peristomial
rings apparently distinct on all sides; anterior ring - 3 /4 of total
peristomial length. Slender, tapering peristomial cirri to front
edge of peristomium or possibly to posterior end of prostomium,
without articulations.
Jaw apparatus symmetrical according to Okuda. His illustration
(fig. 30g) indicates a maxillary formula of 1+1, 7+8, 8+0,
7+9, 1+4, and 1+1 (Okuda's formula: 1+1,6+6-7, 10+8-9).
Branchiae present, palmate, distinctly longer than notopodial
cirri. Branchiae from setiger 6-8. Branchiae terminating well
before posterior end. First 5-9 branchiae single filaments;
maximum number of filaments 3; last 20 segments abranchiate.
Acicular lobes symmetrically conical anteriorly, becoming
rounded in median setigers; aciculae emerging at midline.
Pre-and postsetal lobes low folds or follow outline of the
acicular lobes closely. Ventral cirri moderately inflated in
median setigers. Inflated bases ovate. Posterior ventral cirri
without basal inflations. Notopodial cirri thick and tapering in
anterior setigers; articulations absent.
Limbate setae smooth and rather thick. Pectinate setae
flaring, flat with 1 marginal tooth longer than other teeth; total
number of teeth 11-13. Shafts of compound falcigers inflated
and marginally smooth. Appendages short, tapering with a
small head, bidentate. Distal tooth nearly erect; proximal tooth
illustrated as triangular, short and wide-based. Guard symmetrically
rounded; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and
compound spinigers absent. Aciculae paired, dark, pointed;
cross-section round. Subacicular hooks yellowish brown,
bidentate. Hooks first present from setigers 19-22. Hooks with
small heads. Proximal tooth directed laterally; distal tooth
erect.
UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Many features
from all parts of the body.
EXPECTED STATE OF SELECTED UNKNOWN FEATURES.—
None.
CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT
SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 22, 34, 56, 58. Unknown
Characters: 1-6, 12-14, 24, 33, 36, 38, 40, 42, 51,
52, 55, 59, 60, 63, 74, 78, 81, 82.
ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—38,1.
REMARKS.—Eunice palauensis was considered a member of
group B-2 by Fauchald (1970); it is compared to other species
in that group in Tables 27 and 28. The possible branchial
distribution patterns and color of aciculae and subacicular
hooks could make this species a member of group B-l as well,
so the species has been included also in Tables 24 and 26. The
problem cannot be resolved without access to well-preserved,
complete specimens from the type area.
The species is too poorly known to be included in the key.
Some comments can be made on its relations to other species
listed in the two tables. Of species in Table 24 with less than
five (but more than single) branchial filaments, three have, at
least in part, non-articulated ceratostyles. These include, in
addition to E. palauensis, E. barvicensis and E. mutilatoides.
Eunice barvicensis has a distinct branchial stem and thus
pectinate branchiae; the other two have reduced branchial
stems and palmate branchiae. Separation between E. mutilatoides
and E. palauensis is difficult based on current descriptions
and material, but the two species differ minimally in the shape
and relative size of the appendages of the compound hooks.
These are barely tapering, with large proximal teeth in the
former and strongly tapering, with small heads according to
Okuda (1937, fig. 30g).
Because the total number of setigers was not mentioned, it is
unclear what significance the absence of branchiae on 20
posterior setigers might be. Of the species listed in Table 28
only four have five or fewer branchial filaments. Of these E.
polybranchia has peristomial cirri reaching the middle of the
prostomium; the other three species have peristomial cirri
reaching at most the middle of the peristomium. Of the
remaining species, E. unidentata has short antennae, barely
reaching beyond the prostomium; E. palauensis and E. rullieri
have A-I 11 distinctly longer than A-II. The notopodial cirri are
slender in E. palauensis and medially strongly inflated in E.
rullieri.
Eunice (Eriphyle) paloloides Moore, 1909
Eunice (Eriphyle) paloloides Moore, 1909:235-295, ph. 7-9.
REMARKS.—Examination of the type material demonstrated
that this species has the jaw structure and setal complement of
the genus Palola; it was so considered previously by Hartman
(1938 and 1944).
144. Eunice panamena (Chamberlin, 1919)
FIGURE 82f-l; TABLES 46,48
Leodice panamena Chamberlin, 1919a:256-260, pi. 59: figs. 4-8, pi. 60: figs.
1-5.
MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, USNM 19354, near
Panama (Pacific Ocean), shore, Albatross, 1891.
DESCRIPTION.—Holotype incomplete with 71 setigers;
length 30 mm; maximal width 3.5 mm; length through setiger
10, 6 mm. Color dark gray with black patches scattered over
anterior end.
Prostomium (Figure 82f) distinctly shorter and narrower
than peristomium, as deep as x li of the peristomium. Prostomial
lobes frontally rounded, slightly dorsally flattened dorsally,
sloping away from midline; median sulcus deep. Eyes at bases