Protis Ehlers, 1887

Ten Hove, Harry A. & Kupriyanova, Elena K., 2009, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta): The state of affairs, Zootaxa 2036, pp. 1-126 : 78-81

33. Protis Ehlers, 1887

( Fig. 38)

Type-species: Protis simplex Ehlers, 1887

Number of species: 6 (or 7)

Tube white, opaque, without keels or flaring peristomes. Granular overlay absent. Operculum absent or one or more membranous globular opercula present on normal pinnulate radiole. Arrangement of radioles pectinate, up to 20 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane absent. Branchial eyes not observed. Stylodes absent. Mouth palps absent. 7 thoracic chaetigers. Collar trilobed with entire edge, tonguelets absent. Thoracic membranes long, at least to the end of thorax and usually forming ventral apron across anterior abdominal segments. Collar chaetae fin-and-blade ( Fig. 38A) and limbate. Apomatus chaetae present. Thoracic uncini saw-shaped with about 6 teeth, anterior fang simple pointed ( Fig. 38B). Triangular depression absent. Abdominal chaetae flat narrow geniculate with rounded teeth ( Fig. 38D), slightly more triangular blade in P. hydrothermica . Abdominal uncini rasp-shaped in all segments, with up to 6 teeth in profile, approximately 5–7 teeth in a row above fang ( Fig. 38C). Achaetous anterior abdominal zone absent. Long posterior capillary chaetae present. A posterior glandular pad may be present.

Remarks. According to the original diagnosis, the lack of an operculum is considered a characteristic feature of Protis Ehlers, 1887 . Ten Hove & Zibrowius (1986) reformulated the diagnosis, Kupriyanova & Jirkov (1997) further extended it to include individuals with one or more opercula following the description of the abyssal P. polyoperculata by Kupriyanova (1993b). Ben-Eliahu & Fiege (1996) and Kupriyanova & Jirkov (1997) report both operculate and non-operculate specimens of P. arctica . The nominal taxon Salmacina chilensis Gallardo, 1969 better would fit here (or in Chitinopoma ). The taxonomy of the genus is difficult because chaetae, uncini and tubes are very similar and opercula, if present, are undifferentiated. Protis hydrothermica shows two characters not mentioned for the other species: warts between ventral and lateral collar lobes (see remarks Floriprotis ), and a pair of pockets in the medio-ventral collar.

1. Protis arctica ( Hansen, 1879) , Arctic to Central Atlantic, Mediterranean; bathyal; compare P. simplex

2. Protis brownii ( Pixell, 1913) , Antarctic; maybe synonym of P.simplex

3.? Protis chilensis ( Gallardo, 1969) , off Punta Patache, Northern Chile; bathyal ( fide Nogueira & ten Hove 2000 )

4. Protis hydrothermica ten Hove & Zibrowius, 1986 , East Pacific; near hydrothermal vents

5. Protis pacifica Moore, 1923 , Southern California; bathyal

6. Protis polyoperculata Kupriyanova, 1993b , Kurile-Kamchatka trench; abyssal

7. Protis simplex Ehlers, 1887 , off Florida, 1500 m; compare P. arctica .