The genus Euchone (Polychaeta, Sabellidae) in the Mediterranean Sea, addition of two new species and discussion on some closely related taxa
Author
Giangrande, Adriana
Author
Licciano, Margherita
text
Journal of Natural History
2006
2006-09-28
40
21 - 22
1301
1330
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930600901458
journal article
10.1080/00222930600901458
1464-5262
5227756
Euchone analis
(
KrØyer, 1856
)
(
Figure 1
)
Examined material
One specimen USNM 333,
Greenland
(locality unknown, leg. H. KrØyer), material kindly furnished by Maria Ana Tovar-Hernández, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chetumal,
Quintana Roo
,
México
.
Addition to description
The staining pattern shows a quite homogeneous coloration of the ventral shields in the thorax (
Figure 1A
) less evident in the abdomen (
Figure 1E
). The first chaetiger seems not separated from the preceding and following segments by non-staining lines, nor is the intrasegmental furrow distinct. Dorsally the thorax and the anterior chaetigers of the abdomen are essentially free of stain-accepting cells. Dorsal lips extending from the inner, dorsal margin of the branchial lobes and terminating just dorsal to mouth, slightly elongate with radiolar mid-rib (
Figure 1C
). Ventral lips rounded as long as wide, up to eight ventral radiolar appendages about the same length as the branchial crown (
Figure 1C
). Radioles with radiolar flanges as distal continuation of the palmate membrane until a small free distal ends (
Figure 1D
). Abdominal uncini of predepression and depression chaetigers quite similar (
Figure 1G, H
).
Remarks
Chaetiger and radiolar number, shape of the collar and posterior abdominal depression (
Figure 1B, F
) all correspond well to the original description by
KrØyer (1856)
, as well as the description reported by
Banse (1972)
for material from Alaska, and
Bick and Randel (2005)
for material from Spitzbergen.
The examination of internal structures of the branchial crown seems to confirm the presence of dorsal radiolar appendages in the genus
Euchone
, even though extension of radiolar skeleton was not detected. However, dorsal radiolar appendage assessment produced a lot of misinterpretation both in
Euchone
and
Chone
. Histological analysis seems to indicate the presence of radiolar appendages and skeleton in
E. analis
(
Bick and Randel 2005
)
, by contrast
Cochrane (2003)
, in her cladistic analysis, considers
Euchone
lacking this structure. Recently
Tovar-Hernández (2005)
, redescribing the
type
material of
Chone infundibuliformis
, stated the absence of mid rib or dorsal radiolar appendages in the dorsal lips for the genus
Chone
by the absence of radiolar skeleton support. In this scenario,
Fitzhugh (2002)
detached the presence of radiolar appendages from the presence of branchial skeleton extension, stating that ‘‘the only gross morphological criteria, other than general shape, that can be used to identify radiolar appendages is the presence of the radiolar skeleton when present, or the combined presence of supporting sheath tissue, a blood vessel and the coelom’’. He considers
Chone
without radiolar appendages, and
Euchone
with radiolar appendages, but without branchial skeleton extension.
Figure 1.
Euchone analis
. (A) Staining pattern of the anterior end, ventral view; (B) collar, dorsal view; (C) internal structure of branchial crown after dissection; (D) tip of radioles; (E) staining pattern of abdominal chaetigers, ventral view; (F) anal depression; (G) abdominal uncinus from the first abdominal chaetiger; (H) abdominal uncinus from the anal depression region. dl, dorsal lip; vl, ventral lip; dra, dorsal radiolar appendage; vra, ventral radiolar appendages.
Lastly, the presence of some peristomial structures observed by Tovar-Hernández (personal communication), and referred to as ‘‘glandular tubular organs’’ must be noticed. These circular cameras situated dorsally in each side of the peristomium have already been detected in
Chone princei
(5
Jasmineira
) (
McIntosh, 1916
), and in the genus
Fabrisabella
(
Fitzhugh, 1989
)
. However, in most specimens they are not easily discernible. In hereexamined specimen of
E. analis
, for example, they were not detected.