Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) muelleri

Açik, S., Murina, G. V., Çinar, M. E. & Ergen, Z., 2005, Sipunculans from the coast of northern Cyprus (eastern Mediterranean Sea), Zootaxa 1077, pp. 1-23 : 10-11

Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) muelleri cf. kovalevskii Murina, 1964

Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) muelleri kovalevskii: Murina et al. 1999: 826 –827; Pancucci­Papadopoulou et al. 1999: 90–91, fig. 34.

Aspidosiphon (Aspidosiphon) kovalevskii: Murina & Zavodnik 1985 /1986: 26–28, fig. 1; Saiz Salinas 1988b: 10, figs 1a–d.

Aspidosiphon kovalevskii: Stephen & Edmonds 1972: 229 ; Murina & Zavodnik 1979: 245 –251, figs 2, 3.

Material examined: ESFM – SIP /97–10, T4, trawl, start: 35°22.9' N – 33°41.0' E, finish: 35°22.4' N – 33°39.3' E, 12 May 1997, 38– 45 m, sandy mud with Halophila stipulacea and Caulerpa racemosa , 3 specimens; ESFM – SIP /97–13, T8, trawl, start: 35°40.9' N – 34°35.4' E, finish: 35°40.6' N – 34°35.9' E, 16 May 1997, 27– 45 m, sand and Posidonia oceanica , 4 specimens [one individual within a shell of Bittium jadertinum (Brusina 1865) , one individual within a shell of Gibbula guttadauri (Philippi 1836) ]; ESFM – SIP / 97–11, D1, dredge, 35°22.5' N – 33°05.2' E, 10 May 1997, 50 m, hard substratum, 6 specimens; ESFM – SIP /97–12, D2, dredge, 35°22.4' N – 33°39.5' E, 12 May 1997, 35 m, on P. oceanica , 7 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–25, D16, dredge, 35°43.8' N – 34°37.3' E, 16 July 1998, 300 m, mud with shell fragments, 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–24, D17, dredge, 35°08.7' N – 34°00.1' E, 18 July 1998, 120 m, mud, 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–28, K1, Guzelyurt Bay, 14 July 1998, 1 m, on Cystoseira crinita , 2 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–27, K3, Karpas Cape, 18 July 1998, 10 m, on P. oceanica , 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–22, K5, Karpas Cape, 19 July 1998, 0–2 m, on rocks, 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–26, K8, Limanbasi Cape, 20 July 1998, 3 m, on C. crinita , 3 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–21, K9, Girne, 21 July 1998, 2 m, on rocks, 2 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–23, K9, Girne, 21 July 1998, 5 m, on P. oceanica , 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–20, K10, Malazgirt, 21 July 1998, 2 m, on rocks, 1 specimen.

Remarks: Body cylindrical or rod­like. Trunk 2–17 mm in lenght, 0.6–2.5 mm in width. Introvert 0.8–7.5 mm long, 0.3–1 mm wide. Trunk 2.3–2.5 times introvert length. Hooks yellow, dark brown. All introvert hooks unidentate; 13–53 µm long, 15–38 µm thick at base. Longitudinal grooves on anal shield numbering 15–20. Anal shields usually with spines. Radiale grooves on caudal shield numbering 16–20. Finger­like spines on introvert 10–38 µm long. Intestinal spiral with 11–26 coils. Nephridiopores located just posterior to anus or at level of anus. Some specimens with eggs in coelom cavity, elliptical; longer axis 48–95 µm in diameter, smaller axis 33–85 µm in diameter. A total of 8 specimens of parasites (ectoprocts) were found to be attached to the anal shields and the proximal part of the introvert of two individuals.

Distribution: Arabian Sea, South China, Mediterranean, middle and North Atlantic ( Murina & Zavodnik 1979; Pancucci­Papadopoulou et al. 1999). Depth range: 1­820 m ( Murina & Zavodnik 1985 /1986; Murina et al. 1999).