Eunice plicata Baird 1869

Eunice plicata Baird, 1869

Eunice plicata Baird, 1869:348–349.—Fauchald, 1986:253, figs. 51–55.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, BM(NH) ZH 1861.9.20.25, Fremantle, Australia, coll. Bowerbank.

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype complete with 126 setigers; total length 80 mm long; maximal width 5 mm; length through setiger 10,8 mm.

Prostomium (Figure 90a) distinctly shorter and narrower than peristomium, less than as deep as peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded, dorsally excavate with a thickened rim; median sulcus deep. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles very thick, digitiform, with 2 or 3 long, cylindrical articulations. A-I to posterior edge of anterior peristomial ring; A-II and A-III to setiger 2. Peristomium anteriorly flared; lower lip muscular and very distinct. Separation between rings distinct only dorsally; anterior ring ~ of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of anterior peristomial ring, without articulations.

Maxillary formula 1+1,4+4, 6+0, 6+7, and 1+1.

Branchiae (Figure 90b) present, palmate, distinctly longer than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, flexible. Branchiae from setiger 7 to setiger 115. Branchiae present to near posterior end, present on more than 65% of total number of setigers. Last 30 branchiae single filaments; maximum 5 filaments present. Branchial stems very short; branchiae appearing nearly palmately branching. Filaments short, thick, shorter than notopodial cirri in all but a few median segments.

Neuropodial acicular lobes triangular; aciculae emerging at midline. All presetal lobes low, transverse folds. Anterior postsetal lobes free, as long as acicular lobes, following outline of acicular lobes by setiger 30, similar to presetal folds in posterior setigers. Anterior ventral cirri thick, tapering, as long as postsetal lobe, becoming strongly inflated in median setigers. Inflated bases thick, transverse welts; narrow tips short and button-shaped. By setiger 50 ventral cirrus present only as inflated glandular ridges ventral to neuropodia; narrow tips absent. All notopodial cirri thick, basally somewhat inflated, with 2 or 3 distinct articulations.

Pectinate setae (Figure 90d) flared, flat. One marginal tooth slightly than other teeth; ~15 teeth present. Shafts of compound falcigers (Figure 90c) tapering, marginally smooth. Appendage short, triangular; head distinct, bidentate. Proximal teeth shorter than distal teeth, tapering, directed laterally. Distal teeth tapering, curved, directed laterally. Guards symmetrically bluntly pointed; margins smooth; mucros absent. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Notopodial aciculae black. Neuropodial aciculae up to 3 in a neuropodium, black, tapering, bluntly pointed, straight; cross-section round. Subacicular hooks (Figure 90e) black, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 25, present in all setigers thereafter, always single (except for replacements). Hooks tapering; both teeth of about same size, directed distally.

UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Relationship between Mx III and left Mx IV; pygidium and anal cirri.

EXPECTED STATE OF UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Mx III short, forming part of distal arc with left Mx IV.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 56, 60. Unknown Characters: 4, 6, 13, 14, 42, 51, 74, 78.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.