Aponuphis willsiei Cantone & Bellan, 1996

Arias, Andrés & Paxton, Hannelore, 2015, Onuphis and Aponuphis (Annelida: Onuphidae) from southwestern Europe, with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 3949 (3), pp. 345-369 : 363-364

Aponuphis willsiei Cantone & Bellan, 1996

Figure 10

Aponuphis willsiei Cantone & Bellan, 1996: 27 .

Material examined. Non-type material. One specimen ( MNCN 16.01/15244) Fauna IV off shore Alborán Island Lighthouse (35º 55.68’– 35º 55.63’ N, 0 3 º03.25’– 03º 0 2.67 W), E. Spain, Alborán Sea, western Mediterranean, 33–49 m, 23 Jul 1996; 4 specimens (AM W.47515) Mazarrón Port, Murcia, Spain, dredged from 50–100 m, coll.

20 Mar 2012; 5 specimens ( MNCN 16.01/16173) Mazarrón Port, Murcia, Spain, dredged from 50–100 m, coll. 20 Mar 2012; 4 specimens coated with gold ( MNCN 16.01/16174) Mazarrón Port, Murcia, Spain, dredged from 50– 100 m, coll. 20 Mar 2012.

Type locality. Gulf of Marseille, France, Mediterranean.

Diagnosis. Antennae up to chaetiger 10; three to six ceratophoral rings on antennae. Anterior four chaetigers with four to five bidentate pseudocompound to compound hooks ( Fig. 10 ), chaetiger 5 with two to three hooks; all hooks of almost equal thickness, slender long-appendaged hooks absent. Ventral cirri subulate on first four chaetigers. Subacicular hooks from chaetiger 9–10. Branchiae absent. No colour pattern. Maximum width without parapodia 1.0 mm.

Remarks. This is the first confirmed record of this species from Iberian Peninsula waters. Amoureux (1972) reported one incomplete 1 cm long specimen without branchiae among the A. bilineata (as Hyalinoecia bilineata ) specimens collected on the continental slope of Galicia (northwestern Spain) and he considered it to be the abranchiate Mediterranean form reported by Bellan. However, we did not find any specimens belonging to this species among the samples we examined from the area. Since the species has not been reported again from the Galician coasts, we consider this record as questionable, since it may represent merely a juvenile phase of another Aponuphis species.

Biology. One specimen preserved in its tube was found with two juveniles closely appressed to its body. The juveniles were 2.3 and 2.5 mm long for 17 and 18 chaetigers and measured 0.3 mm in width. The juveniles have well developed frontal lips; palps and antennae with two ceratophoral rings; parapodia are well developed, anterior ones with dorsal cirri; subulate ventral cirri on chaetigers 1 and 2. The chaetal distribution is very similar to that described for A. ornata above with chaetigers 1 and 2 with bidentate compound hooks, limbate and anterior provisional SAHs from chaetiger 3–8, permanent SAHs from chaetiger 9–14, posterior provisional hooks in the last few chaetigers, and pectinate chaetae are absent.

Distribution. Mediterranean, this species is only known from the Gulf of Marseille, the southwestern Iberian Peninsula (Murcia, Spain) and the Alborán Sea.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Aponuphis willsiei. Scanning electron micrographs. A, bidentate compound hooks of chaetiger 3; detailed view of bidentate pseudocompound hook of chaetiger 2; C, pectinate chaeta from chaetiger 15.