Vermiliopsis infundibulum (Linnaeus, 1788)

Bastida-Zavala, J. Rolando, 2008, Serpulids (Annelida: Polychaeta) from the Eastern Pacific, including a brief mention of Hawaiian serpulids, Zootaxa 1722, pp. 1-61 : 53

Vermiliopsis infundibulum /glandigera complex

( Figure 13D)

Vermiliopsis infundibulum glandigera -group.— Imajima, 1976: 139–141, figs. 11a–o, Japan.

Material examined. Ten specimens: Baja California Sur ( Mexico), UANL 362, 3 spec. (approx. 25º56’N, 111º21’W, Puerto Escondido, Jan. 26, 1986, coll. JALG, as Pseudovermilia conchata ); UANL 365 (26º13’N, 112º32’W, Punta San Juanico, 30 m, April 28, 1988, coll. JALG, as Pseudovermilia sp. ). Oaxaca ( Mexico), UMAR-Poly 105, 5 spec. (15º51’N, 97º04’W, Puerto Escondido, on Spondylus calcifer , M12, M14, M20, M23, 6– 10 m, July 4, 2004, coll. SS); UMAR-Poly 106 (15º40’54”N, 96º27’55”W, La Boquilla, Puerto Angel, on bivalves shells, 6–10 m, Nov., 2003, coll. SS).

Diagnosis. Tube white; with 3–4 longitudinal ridges and peristomes, lacks alveoli. Opercular peduncle smooth, white. Operculum with fleshy, bulbous part and distal, yellow to brownish cap; latter with up to 14 internal septa ( Fig. 13D), sometimes horny cap with spine on top. Thoracic membrane short, extends to third thoracic chaetiger. Collar with hooded (limbate) chaetae, with bundles of few chaetae. Thorax with “ Apomatus ” chaetae occur from second chaetiger onwards. Thoracic uncini with anterior blunt tooth.

Habitat. Depth: 6–10 m. On spiny oyster Spondylus calcifer .

Distribution. The Vermiliopsis infundibulum /glandigera complex is circum (sub) tropical. Mediterranean, Red Sea, India, Southern Japan, Australia, Micronesia, Hawaii ( Imajima 1976; Imajima & ten Hove 1984). The specimens belonging to this complex are recorded in the Mexican Pacific: Punta San Juanico, western coast of Baja California Sur and Oaxaca ( Mexico).