Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) agassizii agassizii Keferstein, 1866

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 : 13

Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) agassizii agassizii Keferstein, 1866

( Figure 3 B, 4A)

Phascolosoma agassizii agassizii: Pancucci­Papadopoulou et al. 1999: 70 –71, fig. 24. Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) agassizii: Stephen & Edmonds 1972: 292 –293, figs 34e–g; Saiz Salinas 1986: 52 –55, fig. 19; Cutler & Cutler 1990: 703 –706, figs 7g, h.

Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) agassizii agassizii: Cutler 1994: 173 –174, fig. 51.

Material examined: ESFM – SIP /98–35, K1, Guzelyurt Bay, 14 July 1998, 1 m, on Cystoseira crinita , 3 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–30, K4, Gazi Magosa Bay, 18 July 1998, 4 m, on Posidonia oceanica , 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–32, K6, Karpas Cape, 19 July 1998, 2 m, on rocks, 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–33, K8, Limanbasi Cape, 20 July 1998, 0–5 m, on rocks, 1 specimen; ESFM – SIP /98–34, K10, Malazgirt, 21 July 1998, 3 m, on rocks, 3 specimens; ESFM – SIP /98–31, K10, Malazgirt, 21 July 1998, 3 m, on P. oceanica , 2 specimens.

Remarks: Trunk 10.6–17 mm long, 2.7–3.4 mm wide. Introvert with irregular dark pigment bands ( Figure 3 B); 7.5–16.1 mm long, 1.9–2.5 mm wide. Trunk 1.1–1.4 times introvert length. Hooks arranged in 14–21 rings of hooks. Each hook with a variable clear streak; triangle usually indistinct; unidentate ( Figure 4 A), sometimes with a small secondary tooth; 38–58 µm long, 48–60 µm thick at base. Longitudinal muscle bands numbering 22–24 at level of base of retractors; 18–19 at nephridia level. Trunk with papillae; most of them darker than skin. Preanal papillae 150–280 µm long. Nephridia 6.6–7.3 mm height, 0.5–0.9 mm wide. Trunk 1.6–2.3 times nephridia length. Two dark eye spots present. Spindle muscle arising in front of anus, attached to posterior end of trunk. A single fixing muscle attached to rectum and beginning of intestinal coils. Some specimens with eggs; elliptical, longer axis 125–133 µm in diameter, smaller axis 108–128 µm in diameter.

Distribution: North Pacific, Indian and sub tropical eastern Atlantic Oceans, Mediterranean Sea ( Cutler 1994). Depth range: 0–240 m ( Saiz Salinas 1986).

Figures

FIGURE 3. The species new to the eastern Mediterranean fauna. A. Trunk and partly everted introvert of the specimen (ESFM – SIP / 97 – 20) of Nephasoma (Nephasoma) constrictum. B. Trunk and partly everted introvert of the specimen (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 35) of Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) agassizii agassizii. C. Trunk and partly everted introvert of the specimen (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 42) of Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) scolops. D. Trunk and partly everted introvert of the specimen (E SFM – SIP / 98 – 2) of Phascolosoma (Phascolosoma) stephensoni. Scale line 1 mm

FIGURE 4. Hooks of Phascolosoma species from the Cypriot coast. A. Hooks of P. (P.) agassizii agassizii (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 35). B. Hook of P. (P.) granulatum (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 36). C. Hooks of P. (P.) scolops (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 39). D. Hooks of P. (P.) stephensoni (ESFM – SIP / 98 – 2). Scale line A 24 µm, B 30 µm, C 23 µm, D 15 µm