Bruunellia, Zenkevitch, 1966

Biseswar, Ramlall, 2010, Report on deep-sea bonelliids (Echiura) from the East Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, Zoosystema 32 (1), pp. 139-154 : 152-154

Bruunellia sp.

( Fig. 5G, H )

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — East Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. Gulf of Guinea, BIOZAIRE 3, MTB 30, stn R 9, 05°47.5100’S, 009°42.6576’E, 3154 m, 1.I.2004, 1 ♀.

DESCRIPTION

Colour of trunk of preserved specimen is pink. Proboscis and anterior end of trunk missing.Trunk cylindrical, 11 mm across broadest part. Integument thick and opaque. Papillae elongate, microscopic, discernible only at anterior end of trunk, rest of integument is smooth. Anal rosette surrounds anal aperture ( Fig. 5G ). Body wall at posterior tip of trunk with concentric series of ridges. Opening of single anal vesicle located on conspicuous, conical eminence of body wall ( Fig. 5G ).

Except for rectum and anal vesicle rest of internal organs missing. Single, crumpled, flower-like anal vesicle located on right side of rectum ( Fig. 5H ). Flaps of anal vesicle covered with irregularly arranged tubules terminating in ciliated funnels. Short duct leading from anal vesicle passes through body wall and opens to exterior on conical muscular projection at posterior tip of trunk ( Fig. 5G ).

REMARKS

The present specimen has been assigned to the genus Bruunellia on account of the presence of an anal rosette. The only species in the genus Bruunellia is B. bandae Zenkevitch, 1966 . The specimens were collected from the Banda Trench at a depth of 7250 m. The anatomy of this species is not well known and needs further investigation. There is no information on the gonoducts, anal vesicles and the alimentary and blood vascular system.

The structure of the anal vesicle in the specimen on hand is rather unusual. Such an anal vesicle has not been described in any other echiuran species so far. Detailed studies on additional material in the future will shed more light on the anatomy of this species and help resolve its taxonomic position.

Figures

FIG. 5. — A, B, Protobonellia mitsukurii Ikeda, 1908; A, ventral view of female; B, ventral seta; C, Protobonellia sp., ventral view of female; D, E, Pseudobonellia sp.; D, ventral seta; E, gonoducts; F, Zenkevitchiola sp., ventral view of female; G, H, Bruunellia sp.; G, posterior end of trunk of female showing anal rosette;H, posterior end of trunk cavity showing rectum and anal vesicle.Abbreviations: ar, anal rosette;av, anal vesicle;gd, gonoduct;mt, male tube; nc, nerve cord; niv, neurointestinal vessel; oav, opening of anal vesicle; pr, proboscis; re, rectum; se, seta; vv, ventral vessel. Scale bars: A, H, 2 mm; B, E, 1 mm; C, D, F, 0.25 mm; G, 5 mm.