Leodice marcusi ( Zanol, Paiva & Attolini, 2000 )

Souza, Thaís Kananda Da Silva, Zapff, Luana, Christoffersen, Martin Lindsey & Zanol, Joana, 2024, Taxonomy of Leodice Lamarck, 1818 (Annelida, Eunicidae) from Northeast Brazil (Tropical Southwest Atlantic Ocean) with description of a new species, Zootaxa 5492 (2), pp. 151-175 : 162-166

Leodice marcusi ( Zanol, Paiva & Attolini, 2000)

( Figs 5 , 6 )

Eunice marcusi Zanol, Paiva & Attolini, 2000: 454 .

Leodice marcusi . — Zanol et al. 2014: 90.

Material examined. HOLOTYPE, one complete specimen ( MNRJP –003258), 21°41’25”S, 40°20’46”W, January/ February 1992, 44 m depth . PARATYPE one complete specimen ( MNRJP –003259), 21°41’25”S, 40°20’46”W, February/ March 1992, 44 m depth ; six incomplete specimens ( MNRJP –003260), 21°21’08”S, 40°35’01”W, February/ March 1992, 29 m depth ; six incomplete and three complete specimens ( MNRJP –003261), 22°52’42”S, 41°09’15”W, 82 m depth ; one incomplete specimen ( MNRJP –003262), 21°20’42”S, 40°35’42”W, July 1991, 20 m depth .

NON-TYPE material Paraíba State, 48 specimens: one complete and two incomplete specimens, station 14 ( POLY-UFPB –1991) ; three incomplete specimens, station 29 ( POLY-UFPB –1988 ; POLY-UFPB –1989 ; POLY-UFPB –1990) ; two incomplete specimens, station 37 ( POLY-UFPB –1986 ; POLY-UFPB –1987) ; one incomplete, station 38 ( POLY-UFPB –1993) ; six incomplete specimen, station 39 ( POLY-UFPB –1985) ; one complete specimen, station 45 ( POLY-UFPB –1979) ; three incomplete specimens, station 46 ( POLY-UFPB –1980) ; two complete and four incomplete specimens, station 47 ( POLY-UFPB –1976 ; POLY-UFPB –1977 ; POLY-UFPB –1978) ; one incomplete specimen, station 54 ( POLY-UFPB –1975) ; one incomplete specimen, station 55 ( POLY-UFPB –1973) ; one incomplete specimen, station 56 ( POLY-UFPB –1974) ; one incomplete specimen, station 61 ( POLY-UFPB – 1981) ; one incomplete specimen, station 62 ( POLY-UFPB –1982) ; one incomplete specimen, station 63 ( POLY-UFPB –2000) ; one complete specimen, station 64 ( POLY-UFPB –1983) ; two incomplete specimens, station 65 ( POLY-UFPB –1984) ; one incomplete specimen, station 68 ( POLY-UFPB –2001) ; one incomplete specimen, station 76 ( POLY-UFPB –1992) ; one complete and two incomplete specimens, station 80 ( POLY-UFPB –1994) ; one incomplete specimen, station 85 ( POLY-UFPB –1995) ; two complete and two incomplete specimens, station 86 ( POLY-UFPB –1996) ; one incomplete specimen, station 86 ( POLY-UFPB –1997) ; one incomplete specimen, station 90 ( POLY-UFPB –1998) ; two incomplete specimens, station 93 ( POLY-UFPB –1999) .

Description based on holotype; variation of paratypes in parentheses of (paratypes; non-type). Complete holotype with 121 chaetigers, L10 9 mm, total length 66 mm, maximum W10 without parapodium 3 mm. Paratypes 14 incomplete specimens with 19–108 chaetigers and 3 complete specimens with 100–107 chaetigers, total length of complete specimens 65–68 mm, L10 5–10 mm, W10 without parapodium 2–4 mm. Non-types 48 incomplete specimens with 19–108 chaetigers and 12 complete specimens with 82–122 chaetigers, total length of the complete specimens 39–100 mm, L10 4.5–11.5 mm, W10 without parapodium 2–4 mm in chaetiger 5–20.

Prostomium bilobed with deep median groove, visible dorsally and ventrally, dorsally flat, rounded anteriorly, less deep and distinctly shorter than peristomium ( Fig. 5A, B, D ); dorsal and ventral buccal lips present, appearing quadrilobed ( Fig. 5C ). Prostomial appendages evenly spaced in semi-circle, palps anteriorly and slightly laterally to lateral antennae. Palpophores and ceratophores short and ring–shaped, without articulations. Ceratostyles and palpostyles tapering to thin tips with regular moniliform articulations. Median antennae longest and palps shortest ( Fig. 5A ); palps to posterior border first peristomial ring, with 9 (5–9; 6–8) articulations; lateral antennae to second chaetiger, with 9 (7–14; 6–15) articulations; median antenna to fourth (1–4; 1–6) chaetiger, with 16 (7–13; 8–18) articulations. Pair of eyes present, posterior to palps and lateral to lateral antennae.

Peristomium cylindrical, laterally longer than medially; dorsal anterior margin covering base of median and lateral antennae; conspicuously inflated ventro-lateral lips. First peristomial ring about ¾ of total length, separation between rings visible dorsally and ventrally, not visible laterally ( Fig. 5A, B, D ). Peristomial cirri thin, tapering with 8 (3–7; 3–6) regular cylindrical articulations, reaching anterior end of prostomium (anterior end of first peristomial ring) ( Fig. 5A, D ).

Maxillary formula (paratypes and non-types): 1+1; (4–6)+(4–6); (6–8)+0; (4–7)+(8–10); 1+1; 1+1. MxI pincer like, not extended falcal arch, straight rectangular outer edge, basal inner edge with curvature where most posterior region of MxII fits. MxIII with part of the distal arch posterior to MxIV and partially ventral to MxII; MxV wide, with a prominent pointed tooth; MxVI present, drop-shaped. Mandibles well calcified, wing shaped. MxIV left attachment lamella tapering on left portion, right attachment lamella semi-circular shaped ( Fig. 5C ).

Branchiae pectinate present from chaetiger 4–110 (4–90; 4–65). Branchiae present in more than 65% of total number of chaetigers. First branchia with single short branchial filament; 3–5 branchial filaments from chaetiger 6–42, branchial filaments reduce in length and number from chaetigers 43–110. Branchial filaments and central axis of branchiae shorter than notopodial cirri. Branchiae decrease in length and number of filaments in median and posterior parapodia.

Anterior chaetal lobes rounded, aciculae emerging dorsally; median and posterior chaetal lobe truncate, aciculae emerging dorsally. Prechaetal lobe low transverse fold along the body. Postchaetal lobe rounded, lower than chaetal lobes.

Anterior notopodial cirri slightly inflated basally, tapering to thin tips with up to five articulations. Median and posterior notopodial cirri slightly inflated basally, tapering to thin tips with up to two articulations, shorter than anterior. Ventral cirri basally inflated from chaetiger 6 (4–7) to 41 (38–45; 22–28) ( Fig. 6B ), decreasing in length along body; anterior longer than chaetal lobe, inflated bases oval, tapering to digitiform tips; median and posterior lightly tapering with digitiform tips.

Limbate chaetae slender, elongated and distally tapering, longer than other chaetae. Pectinate chaetae with one marginal tooth longer, anterior with 12–15 teeth ( Fig. 6H ), posterior with 15 teeth, anterior slightly narrower than posterior. Compound falcigers chaetae bidentate, anterior parapodia with article tapering from proximal to distal end with narrow guards, marginally serrated ( Fig. 6A ); article and guards increase towards posterior end; posterior guards slightly inflated, marginally serrated; laterally directed proximal tooth and prominent larger directed laterally distal tooth in anterior and median parapodia ( Fig. 6D ); proximal tooth and distal tooth similar in length, triangular and laterally directed in posterior parapodia ( Fig. 6E ). Aciculae paired along the whole body; anterior aciculae yellow, paired, straight, smoothly tapering to round tips ( Fig. 6B ); median aciculae brown, straight, with rounded tips ( Fig. 6C ); posterior aciculae paired, dark brown, smooth, tapering, with curved tips; last parapodia with one acicula larger than other, tapering to thin tips ( Fig. 6I ). Subacicular hooks brown, tapering to narrow necks, large heads, relative to neck, bidentate, proximal tooth larger and more robust than distal tooth, tapering, directed laterally; present from chaetigers 26 (22–24; 19–25), median and posterior hooks with proximal and distal teeth tapering to blunt tips; distal tooth narrow, almost erect, tapering directed distally; guards partially covering proximal tooth ( Fig. 6C, G, J ).

Pygidium with two pairs of pygidial cirri basally inflated, tapering to thin tips, with up to six cylindrical regular articulations.

Variations. The specimens observed varied in number of chaetigers (100–121) and length (65–68 mm) of complete individuals, smallest specimen (paratype MNRJP003260 ) incomplete with 52 chaetiger, measuring 20 mm in length and having just one branchial filament. Number of articulations on ceratostyles and notopodial cirri (2–5) also varied among specimens. Non-type specimens have more wrinkled and rectangular articulations in prostomial appendages than in type specimens, moniliform articulations becoming drop-shaped distally. Number of teeth in MxII-IV. Starting point of branchiae, inflated base of ventral cirri, and of subacicular hooks are also variable among our specimens.

Distribution. Leodice marcusi was described from the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, between 20 and 82 m in depth, in calcareous algae and medium sand bottoms ( Zanol et al. 2000). Here we expand the geographic distribution to northeastern Brazil and the shallowest record of the species to 12 m ( Fig. 1 ).

Remarks. Our redescription of L. marcusi includes information and illustrations missing in original description, such as anterior end ventral view; anterior end lateral view; maxillary apparatus dorsal view. The maxillary apparatus of the holotype was not dissected. Also, we have observed features in type-material that vary from with the original description. Shape of branchiae is pectinate, and not palmate, as originally described. Color of aciculae and subacicular hooks are dark brown, and not black as originally described.

The specimens from the State of Paraíba agree well with type material. However, they contrast in shape of antennae and palps articulations, which are more wrinkled in non-type material. One potential factor that could account for these differences is the fixation and preservation methods; non-type specimens were preserved for many years in formaldehyde solution used to fix the specimens whereas type material was washed and transferred to alcohol soon after fixation.

Figures

FIGURE 1. General map of the stations of the Marine Algae project along the Continental Shelf of the State of Paraíba where Leodice species have been recorded.

FIGURE 5. Leodice marcusi. A, B, D MNRJP–003258. C, MNRJP–003261. A—anterior end, dorsal view; B—anterior end, ventral view; C–maxillae, dorsal view; D—anterior end, lateral view.

FIGURE 6. Leodice marcusi. A, D, E, G, I, J, POLY-UFPB–1991. B, C, F, H, MNRJP–003261. A—parapodium 5, compound falcigers; B—parapodium 3, notopodial cirri, compound falcigers chaetae, aciculae and ventral cirri; C—parapodium 44, ventral cirri, compound falcigers chaetae, pectinate chaetae and aciculae; D—parapodium 43, compound falcigers chaetae; E— parapodium 110, compound falciger chaetae; F—parapodium 44, pectinate chaetae; G—parapodium 110, subacicular hooks; H—parapodium 3, pectinate chaetae; I—parapodium 110, aciculae; J—parapodium 67, subacicular hook.