Eunice benedicti (Verrill 1885)

Eunice benedicti (Verrill, 1885)

Leodice benedicti Verrill, 1885:427–428.

Eunice benedicti.—Hartman, 1942:52, figs. 88–90.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Lectotype, YPM 2729, south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 40°03′48″N, 70°45′54″W, 130 m, Fish-Hawk sta 922, 16 Jul 1881 (1 specimen).

COMMENTS ON MATERIAL EXAMINED.—This specimen was listed as catalog 60-3 in Hartman (1942). It must have been exposed to strong alcohol at one time, because it now appears slightly dehydrated. The two localities listed by Verrill (1885:428) are Fish Hawk stations 865 and 943. Hartman (1942:52) found material from stations 922 and 1032 in the Peabody Collections; all specimens are from the same area and similar depths. The specimen from station 922 is not, strictly speaking, part of the type series, because neither station 922 nor station 1032 were mentioned in the original description. However, one label in YPM 2729 is in Verrill's handwriting and names the species as benedicti; thus this specimen was identified by Verrill. It came from a set of stations studied by Verrill in preparation for the publication of his new species; for that reason, it is here considered part of the original type series and eligible to be considered a lectotype.

The specimens from Fish Hawk station 1032 seen by Hartman (1942) are cataloged in our collections as USNM 14362. USNM 14361, quoted by Hartman for the specimen from station 922, must at one time have been transferred to the Peabody Museum; the number is correctly present in the ledgers, but the corresponding card and the specimen are no longer part of our collections.

DESCRIPTION.—Complete mature female, with 105 setigers; total length 38 mm; maximum width 2.5 mm at setiger 15. Length through setiger 10, 5 mm; width at setiger 10, 2 mm. Body cylindrical throughout, tapering from anterior to posterior end. Prostomium (Figure 20a) distinctly shorter than and narrower than peristomium, less than as deep as peristomium. Prostomial lobes frontally rounded, inflated dorsally; median sulcus shallow. Eyes faded, posterior to the bases of A-I. Antennae in a horseshoe, evenly spaced, similar in thickness. Ceratophores ring-shaped in all antennae, without articulations. Ceratostyles tapering, without articulations. A-I to second peristomial ring; A-II to setiger 3; A-III to setiger 4. Peristomium cylindrical. Separation between rings distinct on all sides; anterior ring roughly of total peristomial length. Peristomial cirri to middle of prostomium, tapering, without articulations.

Jaws not examined. Hartman (1942:52) reported maxillary formula as 1+1,6+7, 9+0, 5+11, and presumably 1+1.

Branchiae (Figure 20i) present, pectinate, distinctly longer than notopodial cirri, not reduced in mid-body region, flexible. Branchiae from setiger 3 through setiger 39. Branchiae terminating well before posterior end, present on less than 55% of total number of setigers. Three first pairs single filaments; all other branchiae with 2 or more filaments; maximum number 12, at or near setiger 15. Number of filaments maintained near maximum number to 3 segments before end of branchiated region. Branchial stems longer than filaments, flexible, tapering. Filaments longer than notopodial cirri, tapering distally to slender, nearly translucent tips.

Anterior neuropodial acicular lobes symmetrically truncate; median acicular lobes asymmetrically triangular, with aciculae emerging superior to midline; posterior acicular lobes nearly trapezoidal with aciculae and the subacicular hooks supporting distal corners (Figure 20b). All pre- and postsetal lobes low transverse folds. First 4 ventral cirri thick, tapering from narrow bases. Ventral cirri basally inflated from about setiger 5; inflated bases thick transverse welts in all remaining setigers. Narrow tip of ventral cirri digitiform in anterior and median setigers, becoming reduced from about setiger 40 and completely missing in last 45 setigers. Remnant thick pad-like structure moved to posterior face of parapodia visible only as a modest pad-like swelling on posteroventral edge of neuropodia in far posterior setigers. Anterior notopodial cirri medially inflated, increasing in length through setiger 15, thereafter decreasing through remainder of branchial region, retaining approximately same shape. Far posterior notopodial cirri short and digitiform. Notopodial cirri without articulations.

Limbate setae more than twice as long as other setae in anterior and median setigers, clearly longer than all other setae in all setigers, slender, marginally smooth, very narrowly limbate, appearing nearly capillary. Pectinate setae (Figure 20d) very long, narrow; shafts cylindrical, slender; blades tapering, flat. One marginal tooth distinctly longer than other teeth; total number about 10. Shafts of compound falcigers (Figure 20c,e) extremely long compared to length of appendages, distally inflated with serrated margins; distal beak present. Appendages short, tapering, bidentate. Proximal teeth triangular, directed laterally, larger in posterior than in anterior setigers; distal teeth larger than proximal teeth, tapering, slightly less curved in posterior than in anterior setigers. Guards symmetrically sharply pointed with distinct short mucros, marginally serrated. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae paired, yellow, tapering; cross-section round. Superior aciculae (Figure 20h) considerably heavier than inferior aciculae, gently curved, sharply tapering. Inferior aciculae similar in shape, but distally straight. Separation between core and sheath indistinct in both aciculae and subacicular hooks. Subacicular hooks (Figure 20f, g) yellow, bidentate. Hooks first present from setiger 21, present in all setigers thereafter, paired in some setigers. Hooks tapering, with distinct head. Proximal teeth large, slender, directed laterally. Distal teeth, small, nearly erect. Guards rounded truncate.

UKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—Pygidium and anal cirri; relation between Mx III and left Mx IV.

EXPECTED STATES OF UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—The number of teeth in Mx III and left Mx IV indicates that Mx III is long and located behind left Mx II rather than as part of a distal arc.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 22, 60. Unknown Characters: None.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—None.