Zealand species
Author
Cutler, Edward B.
Author
Schulze, Anja
Author
Dean, Harlan K.
text
Zootaxa
2004
525
1
19
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.158002
24810fc0-d26c-4960-bceb-9257c4eabcd5
11755326
158002
Aspidosiphon
(
Akrikos
) cf.
zinni
Cutler
Aspidosiphon zinni
Cutler, 1969
: 209
–211.
Type
locality
: East Coast of the
U.S.
,
39.43° N
,
70.6° W
,
2496 m
.
Remarks
: The two
5 mm
transparent thin worms have continuous longitudinal musculature and a pale, ungrooved anal shield made up of fine uniform granular units. The introvert is shorter than the trunk and has scattered, small, pale hooks and no observable tentacles.
Distribution
: Common in the northern Atlantic Ocean at depths of
1100–4400 m
, plus two records from around 9° S off the
Congo
River. In the Indian Ocean there is one report from the
Mozambique
Channel and one from the
Reunion
Islands. The worms frequently live in arenaceous foraminiferan tests. The present specimens are thousands of kilometres from any previously known populations of
A. zinni
. Since they are very small deepwater animals it is conceivable that the species has been overlooked by previous collectors Before accepting the present material as unequivocally this species, we prefer to have additional specimens for confirmation.