Piromis vossae, Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., 2011

Salazar-Vallejo, Sergio I., 2011, Revision of Piromis Kinberg, 1867 and Pycnoderma Grube, 1877 (Polychaeta: Flabelligeridae), Zootaxa 2819, pp. 1-50 : 25-26

Piromis vossae n. sp.

Figure 10

Type material. Western Atlantic Ocean. Holotype ( USNM 1146766) and paratype ( ECOSUR), off the southeastern tip of Florida, R/V Gerda, Cruise 6214, Sta. 22 (25°44ʹ N, 80°04ʹ W), 125 m, 20 Jun. 1962.

Description. Holotype posteriorly incomplete, oval in cross section, completely covered by a thin layer of white sediment grains ( Fig. 10 A). Anterior end with five chaetigers directed anteriorly. Anterior end retracted in both types; paratype with a longitudinal cut that destroyed the anterior end. Body covered by papillae, mostly not passing the sediment layer; few exposed, especially ventrally towards the posterior part of the holotype; each papilla thin, capitate. Sediment particles larger on dorsal and lateral surfaces ( Fig. 10 B), smaller ventrally ( Fig. 10 C). Holotype 24 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, cephalic cage chaetae 2.5 mm long, 44 chaetigers.

Cephalic cage chaetae as long as 1.5 times body width. Chaetigers 1–2 involved in cephalic cage; notopodia 1– 2 with three chaetae, neuropodia 1–2 with five chaetae. Anterior dorsal margin of chaetiger 1 with a median digitate projection, eroded in holotype. Chaetal transition from cephalic cage to body chaetae gradual; median and posterior chaetigers with neurohooks slightly different from the anterior ones. Gonopodial lobes not seen.

Anterior parapodia low, not forming notopodial lobes. Parapodia lateral, neuropodia ventrolateral. Noto- and neuropodia poorly developed, one elongate, postchaetal papillae per ramus.

Median notochaetae arranged in short transverse row, 5–6 chaetae per bundle (7–8 in paratype), as long as onehalf body width (longer in posterior chaetigers); all notochaetae multiarticulated ( Fig. 10 D), with medium-sized articles basally, becoming progressively longer in median and distal regions; chaetigers 1–2 with long neurochaetae, slightly shorter in posterior parapodia; 4–5 per bundle, arranged in a transverse row; each with medium-sized articles basally, longer medially, gradually decreasing in size ( Fig. 10 E); posterior neurochaetae ( Fig. 10 F) with basal articles anchylosed, 1–2 large articles medially, then slightly longer, decreasing in size distally. Tip bidentate, accessory tooth laminate, thinner than main tooth, of about the same length.

Posterior end unknown.

Etymology. This species is named after Nancy Voss, a well-known expert on cephalopods, in recognition of her painstaking care of the abundant and rich invertebrate collections made during the University of Miami Deep Sea Expeditions. Through her kind support, these collections have been very useful for the study of Grand Caribbean invertebrates in general, and she has encouraged our research in polychaetes for many years.

Type locality. Straits of Florida.

Variation. The paratype is posteriorly incomplete, being 22 mm long, 2 mm wide, cephalic cage chaetae 3 mm long, 35 chaetigers.

Remarks. Piromis vossae n. sp. belongs to the group of species provided with large sediment particles over the body. It differs from the other species in the group because their notopodial lobes are very low, if present, and because their neurohooks are not markedly reduced in length in the anterior region; they rather gradually decrease in size posteriorly.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality, in 125 m depth. The same sample contained some aphroditids, cirratulids, trichobranchids, and sipunculans ( Bastida et al. 2001:7).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Piromis vossae n. sp. A. Holotype (USNM- 1146766), complete, lateral view. B. Same, anterior end, dorsal view. C. Same, anterior end, lateral view. D. Paratype, series of notochaeta from chaetiger 10. E. Same, neurochaetae from chaetiger 10. F. Same, neurochaetae from chaetiger 32. Scale bars: A: 1 mm, B – C: 0.5 mm, D: 20 µm, E, F: 150 µm.