Dear group,
I spent a few hours today examining the FW polychaetes I had mentioned
in an earlier post. By request I will post a more detailed description. While I
am reasonably familiar with polychaete morphology, there is a possibility
that I have erred in the identification of certain parts, so please forgive if
any "impossible" combinations of traits appear!
The prostomium is pointed in some individuals, rounded in others. I can
find no evidence of prostomial appendages except in one specimen there
appear to be scars or remants of what could be palps as is seen in
Spionids. The prostomium has four black eyes, with the first pair being
slightly larger and further apart than the second pair.
Branchiae are simple, flattened, filliform (?) and are about 4 times as long
as wide. The first setiger that I can see undisputable branchiae on is
setiger three. The branchiae are dorsal to the parapodia and appear, in
some places, to be partially fused with the notopodium. The posterior end
of most of my specimens is either missing or damaged, so I do not know
how far back the branchiae extend. On one specimen with a complete
posterior region I can find no branchiae on these setigers. However, the
posterior setigers have many fine cirri (maybe branchiae?), about 4-7 on
each side of each setiger.
The parapodia are biramous. The setae (I couldn't determine neuro- from
notosetae, I believe I was looking at notosetae) are simple limbate
capillaries. Bidentate (?) hooded hooks appear from setiger 20 on back
(one specimen has hooks on setiger 18, and another may have been as far
back as setiger 22).
Thanks again for any input, -Aaron
Aaron Baldwin <jsapb at gci.net>
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