Eunice bassensis

Eunice bassensis McIntosh, 1885

Eunice bassensis McIntosh, 1885:298, pl. 39: fig. 16, pl. 21A: figs. 8, 9.—Fauchald, 1986:245, figs. 15, 16.

Eunice antennata.—Hartman, 1959:309 [in part, not Eunice antennata Lamarck, 1818].

MATERIAL EXAMINED.—Holotype, BM(NH) ZK 1885.12.1.207, off East Montcoeur Island, Bass Strait, South Australia, 39°10′S, 146°37′E, 2 Apr 1874, 69–73 m, dredged, sand, Challenger sta 162.

COMMENTS ON MATERIAL EXAMINED.—The holotype was reported as anteriorly incomplete when first described. The type locality was corrected by Mr. A. Muir (in litt.)

DESCRIPTION.—Holotype posterior fragment of 55 setigers of which last 22 in regeneration; 50 mm long; 3 mm wide; apparently middle and last third of very large specimen. The integument is light colored and contains a number of whitish granules.

Branchiae (Figure 19b) present except in last 3 setigers, longer than notopodial cirri, erect. All branchiae branching except in regenerating portion where either 1 or 2 filaments present. Maximal number of filaments 9; most branchiae with 6–8 filaments through setiger 33 of fragment. Stems erect, longer than filaments, tapering. Filaments about as long as notopodial cirri, digitiform.

Posterior neuropodial acicular lobes truncate with aciculae emerging in midline. Pre- and postsetal lobes low folds. Ventral cirri moderately basally inflated, becoming digitiform in posterior setigers. Notopodial cirri tapering, with up to 5 distinct articulations.

Compound falcigers with bidentate appendages; guards symmetrically bluntly pointed, without mucros. Pseudocompound falcigers and compound spinigers absent. Aciculae paired, yellow, tapering; tips pointed; cross-section round. Separation between core and sheath indistinct in both aciculae and subacicular hooks. Subacicular hooks (Figure 19a) yellow, tridentate with teeth in a crest. Hooks tapering towards distinct head; teeth decreasing evenly in size distally, proximal teeth directed laterally.

UKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—All features associated with prostomium and peristomium; jaw structure; distribution of branchiae and subacicular hooks; structure of anterior and median parapodia.

EXPECTED STATE OF UNKNOWN MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.—A-I through A-III with moniliform articulations. Mx III long, located behind left Mx II; distal arc absent. Branchiae from approximately setiger 6; with reduced number of filaments in mid-body region. Subacicular hooks present from about setiger 25.

CHARACTERS USED IN PREPARATION OF KEY NOT SCORED.—Inappropriate Characters: 58, 59. Unknown Characters: 1–29, 33, 35, 36, 39, 40, 42, 45, 46, 48, 49, 51–56, 61, 62, 65–68, 80–82.

ASSUMED STATES FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING KEY.—33,1.