Terebellidae (Polychaeta: Terebellida) from the Grand Caribbean region 2320
Author
Londoño-Mesa, Mario H.
text
Zootaxa
2009
2009-12-22
2320
1
1
93
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2320.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.2320.1.1
11755334
5316176
Thelepus pascua
(Fauchald, 1977)
Figures 25
A-K
Euthelepus pascua
,
Fauchald, 1977b:57–58
,
Figs 12
D-H.
Thelepus pascua
,
Hutchings & Glasby, 1986:114
(comb. nov.).
Type material:
Holotype
:
USNM 53093
(1)
Galeta Reef
,
Panama
,
17.III.1972
.
Coll. K. Fauchald.
Description:
Holotype
incomplete, 35 segments,
4.5mm
long,
0.5mm
wide (
Figs 25A, B
). Upper lip short, semicircular. Lower lip short, wide (
Figs 25C,D
). Tentacular membrane short; eyespots absent. No tentacles remaining. Twelve ventral shields; anterior most shields wider and swollen, and decreasing in width. Two single pairs of branchiae on segments 2–3 (
Figs 25E,F
); each branchia with a long, stout filament on each side, as long as 7 thoracic segments. First pair arising more laterally than second pair (second pair incomplete, missing left filament); each branchiae near anterior margin of segments. Nephridial papillae not seen. Notopodial glandular tissue not developed. Notopodia from segment 3; 32 pairs of notopodia; oar-like chaetae on two lengths (
Figs 25
G-I). Pairs of neuropodia small on segment 6, then more visible and distinguishable, but low and flattened. Thoracic uncini (
Figs 25J
from
Fauchald, 1977b
; 25K) with dental formula MF:2–4:4–5:7; PP developed as a heel; PF absent; Oc slightly convex; Cp with three series of accessory teeth decreasing in size; Sr narrow; SrP as square button close to rounded AP; SrA absent; AF absent; Bs strongly curved. Pygidium missing.
Staining pattern:
Only ventral shields stain deeply. Other structures do no stain.
Discussion:
The
holotype
is the only specimen known so far.
Hutchings and Glasby (1986)
transferred the species from
Euthelepus
to
Thelepus
because of the lack of lateral lappets. After their revision, they stated that the specimen has 29 segments with notochaetae, which was missing in the original description. Nevertheless, there are 32 segments with notochaetae, with the last ones not easily visible. Further, the
holotype
includes an anterior fragment, without the abdominal portion; thus, the abdominal neuropodia reported in the original description might belong to a lost abdominal fragment lost. No other species in the genus has been described with a single pair of branchial filaments. On the other hand, chaetae were never drawn in the original and subsequent descriptions. Oar-like chaetae have not been reported in this subfamily. Thus, the number of single branchial filaments and the presence of paleate chaetae confirm the validity of the species.
FIGURE 25.
Thelepus pascua
(Holotype USNM 53093): A-B. Lateral view. C. Anterior end in ventral view (from
Fauchald, 1977b
). D. Anterior end in lateral view. E. Anterior end in lateral view (from
Fauchald, 1977b
). F. Anterior end in dorsal view (from
Fauchald, 1977b
). G. Fascicle of notochaetae from anterior thoracic region. H. Long notochaetae from anterior thoracic segment. I. Short notochaetae from anterior thoracic segment. J. Anterior uncini (from
Fauchald, 1977b
). K. Uncini from anterior thoracic segment. A,B: 0.7mm; C,E,F,J: no original scale; D: 1.3mm; G: 0.05mm; H,I: 0.02mm; K: 0.008mm.
Type
locality:
Galeta Reef
,
Laurencia Zone
,
Panama
,
Atlantic Ocean
.