Laubieriopsis arenicola (Riser, 1987)

Figure 23

Fauveliopsis arenicola Riser, 1987: 211 – Figs 5–11; Petersen 2000: 510 (n. comb.).

TL: New Zealand, North Island, Leigh, Amphioxus sand, Sponge Flats, off Goat Island, 22 m. D: Only known from the type locality.

Type material: Southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand. Holotype (USNM 97494) and one paratype (USNM 97495), Leigh, Goat Island, Sponge Flats (36°15’55” S, 174°47’34” E), 22 m, Amphioxus sand, 8 Oct. 1982, N.W. Riser, coll. (paratype twisted over itself, about 5.5. mm long, 0.3 mm wide, 26 chaetigers).

Diagnosis. Laubieriopsis with 25 chaetigers. Anterior segments with 3 or 4 annulations (Fig. 23A); posterior segments smooth (Fig. 23B, C). First 4 anterior chaetigers with two aciculars and two capillaries per bundle, tips apparently entire. Median and posterior parapodia with one acicular and one capillary per ramus. Last chaetiger with short aciculars, not reaching pygidium limit. Genital papillae paired, on chaetigers 6/7.

Remarks. Laubieriopsis arenicola resembles L. fauchaldi because both species have more than 21 chaetigers and have aciculars with tips entire along the first few chaetigers. The differ, however, as indicated in the key above in the number of chaetigers in the body, in the presence of genital papillae (GP), and in the segment surface along body. In L. arenicola the body has 25 chaetigers, the integument is 3–4 annulated, and GP are present in chaetiger 6–7, whereas in L. fauchaldi the body has 47 chaetigers, segment surface is smooth, not annulated, and there are no GP recorded.

The description is nearly complete in Riser (1987) including the chaetigers count (25). Because of its body wall being smooth, and especially because the body ends and chaetiger size matches with the body pattern in Laubieriopsis, the species is being referred to this genus after the study of the type material.