Malmgreniella agulhana (Day 1960)

Malmgreniella agulhana (Day, 1960)

Harmothoe agulhana Day, 1960:277, fig. 1g–1; 1967:74, fig. 1.11.q–u.

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN: South Africa: False Bay, 34°12′S, 18°37′E, University of Cape Town Ecological Survey, sta FAL 419, 15 May 1961, 48 m, sand and shell, identified by J.H. Day, 1 specimen (BMNH 1961.9.834).

DESCRIPTION.—Type material not available. According to Day, holotype 12 mm long, 2 mm wide without setae, and 36 segments. Anterior fragment from False Bay 3 mm long, 2 mm wide including setae, and 18 segments. Elytra large, oval to subreniform, smooth except for group of microtubercles near anteromedial margin (with faint network of brown pigmentation on exposed part, according to Day) (Figure 10B; Day, 1960, fig. 1k).

Bilobed prostomium with lobes rounded to subtriangular, without distinct peaks; eyes small, anterior pair in region of greatest width, slightly larger than posterior pair; ceratophore of median antenna in anterior notch, with style about as long as prostomium; ceratophores of lateral antennae inserted terminoventrally, with short subulate styles; palps stout, tapered; tentaculophores lateral to prostomium, without setae, with dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri similar to median antenna (Figure 10A; Day, 1960, fig. 1j). Segment 2 with first pair of large elytrophores, biramous parapodia, and long ventral buccal cirri similar to tentacular cirri (Figure 10A; Day, 1960, fig. 1j).

Biramous parapodia with notopodia shorter than neuropodia, rounded, with projecting acicular lobes on lower sides; larger neuropodia with presetal conical acicular lobes with large digitiform supraacicular processes and shorter rounded postsetal lobes (Figure 10C; Day, 1960, fig. 1g). Notosetae about as stout as neurosetae, short, curved to longer, nearly straight, with spinose rows and tapered bare tips (Figure 10D; Day, 1960, fig. 1h). Upper neurosetae with longer spinose regions and bifid tips; middle ones with shorter spinose regions and bifid tips; lower neurosetae with entire tips (Figure 10E; Day, 1960, fig. 1i). Dorsal cirri with cylindrical cirrophores and papillate styles, extending beyond tips of neuropodia; dorsal tubercles nodular; ventral cirri short, subulate (Day, 1960, fig. 1g,j).

DISTRIBUTION.—Atlantic Ocean, South Africa. In 26–48 meters (see Day, 1960).