Metavermilia Bush, 1905

Ten Hove, Harry A. & Kupriyanova, Elena K., 2009, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta): The state of affairs, Zootaxa 2036, pp. 1-126 : 62-64

21. Metavermilia Bush, 1905

( Fig. 28)

Type-species: Vermilia multicristata Philippi, 1844

Number of species: 14

Tube white, opaque, peristomes may be present, as well as several longitudinal keels, sometimes denticulate. Granular overlay generally absent. Operculum with chitinous, non-calcified endplate, sometimes with complex multi-tiered structures, or endplate may be absent. Peduncle flattened, ribbon-like, without distal wings; formed from second dorsal radiole on one side. Constriction may be present. Pseudoperculum may be present. Radioles arranged in semi-circles to short pectinate, up to 18 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane and stylodes absent. Branchial eyes may be present. Mouth palps absent. 7 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar trilobed, tonguelets between ventral and lateral collar lobes absent. Length of thoracic membranes variable, ending at thoracic segments 3–7, sometimes forming ventral apron on anterior abdominal segments. Collar chaetae limbate ( Fig. 28A). Apomatus chaetae present ( Fig. 28B). Thoracic uncini saw-shaped with up to 15 teeth, anterior tooth blunt, rounded ( Fig. 28C). Triangular depression absent. Abdominal chaetae with flat narrow geniculate blade with rounded teeth ( Fig. 28E); uncini saw- or rasp-shaped ( Fig. 28D). Achaetous anterior abdominal zone absent. Posterior capillary chaetae and glandular pad present.

Remarks. The genus Metavermilia was revised and emended by Zibrowius (1971b) for four species; since then 10 more species have been added (see Nishi et al. 2007 for history and literature review). Specimens of M. acanthophora have a pseudoperculum (as mentioned for AM W3629 by Dew (1959) and ZMA V.Pol. 4701); another in the Queensland Museum (G 3905) has 2 opercula, one elaborate with three chitinous diabolos and spine, the other simple with a single chitinous endplate with spine.

1. Metavermilia acanthophora ( Augener, 1914) , Indo-West Pacific, South Japan to Australia

2. Metavermilia annobonensis Zibrowius, 1971b , Annobón, Western Africa; records from elsewhere should be checked

3. Metavermilia arctica Kupriyanova, 1993d , off Greenland, off Norway, Arctic Ocean

4. Metavermilia gravitesta Imajima, 1978 , Izu Islands, Japan

5. Metavermilia inflata Imajima, 1977 , Ogasawara Islands, Japan; bathyal

6. Metavermilia multicristata ( Philippi, 1844) , (sub)tropical Atlantic, Mediterranean, West Indian Ocean 7. Metavermilia nanshaensis Sun, 1998 , China

8. Metavermilia nates Zibrowius, 1971b , Europa Island, Tanzania; Red Sea, Ponape; Honshu, Japan 9. Metavermilia ogasawaraensis Nishi, Kupriyanova & Tachikawa, 2007 , Ogasawara Islands, Japan 10. Metavermilia ovata Imajima, 1978 , Japan, Seychelles

11. Metavermilia spicata Imajima, 1977 , Japan

12. Metavermilia taenia Zibrowius, 1971b , Josephine Bank, East Atlantic

13. Metavermilia truncata Imajima, 1978 , Izu Islands, Japan

14. Metavermilia yamazatoi Imajima & ten Hove, 1989 , Okinawa, North-West Pacific.