Leonnates nipponicus Imajima, 1972

Glasby, Christopher J., 2015, Nereididae (Annelida: Phyllodocida) of Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 207-239 : 214-215

Leonnates nipponicus Imajima, 1972

( Fig. 2 C)

Leonnates nipponicus Imajima, 1972: 41 –43, fig. 2a–l, fig. 7. Leonnates nipponicus .— Qiu & Qian 2000: 1137 –1138.

Material examined. NTM: W23962 (1), Martin Reef, 14°45.36'S, 145°21.822'E, coll. CReefs Lizard Team, 30 Aug 2010.

Diagnosis. Leonnates species with uniform dark brown antero-dorsal pigmentation ( Fig. 2 C); absence of notopodial homogomph falcigers. Conical paragnaths and papillae on maxillary ring, papillae only on oral ring, arranged as follows (n = 1): Areas I: 0; II: 7 paragnaths in cluster of 2 rows; III: 5 papillae in transverse line; IV: 8– 10 paragnaths in triangular cluster; V: 0; VI: 15 or 16 papillae in circular cluster; VII–VIII: ~80 papillae in 2 or 3 rows mid-ventrally.

Remarks. This rarely collected species fits well the description of Imajima (1972), particularly in the key differences that distinguish it from the closely similar L. indicus and L. crosnieri ; that is, the absence of notopodial homogomph falcigers, and the uniform dark brown antero-dorsal pigmentation pattern. As we currently lack a good understanding of morphological variability in the species, it is not possible to know whether the higher papillae count in Area VI of the present specimens compared to Imajima’s (15 or 16 vs 4 or 5) represents intraspecific variation or perhaps indicates that the Lizard Island form is new.

Habitat. Back Reef - silt grey sand and coral rubble. Also from corals in southern Japan.

Type locality. Amami-Oshima, southern Japan.

Distribution. Southern Japan. First record for Lizard Island and Australia.

Figures

FIGURE 2. A. Composetia marmorata NTM W 22530, preserved, antero-ventral view, pharynx everted; B. Leonnates crosnieri NTM W 23992, preserved, dorsal view; C. L. nipponicus NTM W 23962, preserved, dorsal view; D. Micronereis bansei NTM W 22659, alive, dorsal view; E. Neanthes pachychaeta NTM W 22800, preserved, antero-dorsal view; F. Nereis cf. cirriseta NTM W 22523, alive, antero-dorsal view; G. N. cf. cirriseta NTM W 22523, preserved, antero-dorsal view, pharynx everted; H. N. cf. cirriseta NTM W 22523, preserved, antero-ventral view, pharynx everted. Approximate body widths: A: 2.6 mm; B, C: 5.0 mm; D: 0.4 mm; E: 4.0 mm; F – H: 0.9 mm.