Vitreotubus Zibrowius, 1979b

Ten Hove, Harry A. & Kupriyanova, Elena K., 2009, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta): The state of affairs, Zootaxa 2036, pp. 1-126 : 103-105

46. Vitreotubus Zibrowius, 1979b

( Fig. 50)

Type-species: Vitreotubus digeronimoi Zibrowius, 1979b

Number of species: 1

Tube entirely vitreous, more or less quadrangular in cross-section by its two ample undulating lateral keels, and with a dorsal row of teeth. Granular overlay absent. Operculum inverse conical with chitinous diabololike endplate. Peduncle smooth, cylindrical, merging gradually into operculum, without wings, inserted as first radiole (at base of left branchial lobe, in line with first radiole). Pseudoperculum absent. Arrangement of radioles short pectinate, up to 11 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane and stylodes absent. Branchial eyes not observed. Mouth palps present. 7 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar trilobed. Medial lobe of collar with scalloped edge and lateral projections, separated from lateral lobes by deep incision (tonguelets absent), latter continuous with thoracic membranes extending all along the thorax, but narrow in the posterior segments, forming ventral apron. Collar chaetae Spirobranchus - type ( Fig. 50B) and simple limbate. Apomatus chaetae absent. Thoracic uncini saw-shaped with 6–7 teeth above pointed fang. Triangular depression present. Abdominal chaetae true trumpet-shaped, with two rows of pointed teeth bordering hollow groove and extended into a long lateral spine ( Fig. 50E). Abdominal uncini saw-shaped with about 6 teeth anteriorly ( Fig. 50C), rasp-shaped with about 10 teeth in profile, 3–4 teeth in a row posteriorly ( Fig. 50D). Achaetous anterior abdominal zone absent. Posterior capillary chaetae absent, but geniculate chaetae long at the end of abdomen. Posterior glandular pad absent.

Remarks. The monotypic genus was originally described from fossil records and Recent material from the bathyal zone of the Azores and the Indian Ocean ( Zibrowius, 1979b), more recent records are given by ten Hove (1994). It has a very characteristically shaped transparent tube.

Vitreotubus digeromimoi Zibrowius, 1979b , Central Atlantic, Indian Ocean; bathyal.