Gallardoneris iberica, Martins, Roberto, Carrera-Parra, Luis F., Quintino, Victor & Rodrigues, Ana Maria, 2012

Martins, Roberto, Carrera-Parra, Luis F., Quintino, Victor & Rodrigues, Ana Maria, 2012, Lumbrineridae (Polychaeta) from the Portuguese continental shelf (NE Atlantic) with the description of four new species, Zootaxa 3416, pp. 1-21 : 6-10

Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov.

Figure 2

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ( MNHN TYPE 1538) northwestern Portuguese continental shelf, site MESH 3B, 39º48.584ʹ N 9º13.773ʹ W, June 2010, in fine sand, 100.5 m. Paratypes: MB29-000226, 1 specimen, same data as holotype. DBUA 0 1315.01, 1 specimen, same data as holotype. ECOSUR0128, 1 specimen, site PC128. MB29-000227, 1 specimen, site MESH 2E. MB29-000228, 2 specimens, site MESH 7E. DBUA 0 1315.02, 1 specimen, site MESH 7E. Additional material: site MESH 2D, 1 specimen; site MESH 2E, 1 specimen; site MESH 3B, 1 specimen; site MESH 5D, 1 specimen; site MESH 6E, 1 specimen; site MESH 6F, 7 specimens; site MESH 7D, 1 specimen; site MESH 7E, 7 specimens; site MESH 12D, 3 specimens; site MESH 14D, 2 specimens; site MESH 23D, 2 specimens; site R2, 3 specimens; site R16, 2 specimens; site R19, 1 specimen; site PC102, 2 specimens; site PC125, 2 specimens; site PC135, 1 specimen; site PC150, 1 specimen; site PC186, 1 specimen; site PC191, 1 specimen; site PC196, 2 specimens; site PC199, 1 specimen; site PC206, 1 specimen; site PC208, 1 specimen; site PC209, 1 specimen; site PC211, 1 specimen; site PC219, 3 specimens; site PC220, 2 specimens; site PC223, 1 specimen; site G28(2), 1 specimen.

Description. Holotype complete, with 101 chaetigers, LT=16.0 mm, W10= 0.3 mm, L10= 1.7 mm. Prostomium conical, slightly longer than wide, with a pair of nuchal organs, ventrally with short buccal lips. Peristomium about 2/3 of the prostomium length, with two rings of similar size ( Fig. 2 A).

All parapodia well developed, first six smaller than following ones. Prechaetal lobe in parapodia 1–5 inconspicuous, in parapodia 6–14 ovoid, from parapodium 15 digitiform; smaller than postchaetal lobe in anterior parapodia, of similar size in median parapodia (15–81), longer than postchaetal from parapodium 82. Postchaetal lobe in parapodia 1–18 auricular, from parapodium 19 digitiform ( Fig. 2 B–D). Short rounded dorsal cirri in all parapodia.

Composite multidentate hooded hooks (CMHH) in chaetigers 1–7, with 2–3 per parapodium, with short blade, with up to 7 teeth, proximal tooth largest ( Fig. 2 E). Simple multidentate hooded hooks from chaetiger 8, with short hood, with up to 7 teeth, proximal tooth largest, preacicular hook as large as postacicular hook ( Fig. 2 F). Dorsal limbate chaetae in chaetigers 1–26, ventral limbates in chaetigers 1–7. Aciculae yellow, aristate, one in anterior parapodia and up to two in posterior parapodia.

Pygidium with terminal anus, without anal cirri.

Mandible completely fused. Maxillary apparatus with four pairs of maxillae; maxillary carriers as long as MI, almost triangular, joined along base of MI ( Fig. 2 G). MI forceps-like with wide recurved base, without attachment lamella. MII stout, as long as MI, with ligament, with three teeth, without attachment lamella. MIII edentate ( Fig. 2 H). MIV edentate plate, with whitish central area ( Fig. 2 I).

Variations. Material examined varied in L10 from 1.2 to 2.3 mm, in W10 from 0.2 to 0.5 mm and also varied in the following features: the last composite multidentate hooded hooks were found from chaetigers 6 to 9; the first simple multidentate hooded hooks appeared from chaetigers 7 to 10; the end of dorsal and ventral limbate ranged from chaetigers 25 to 35 and from 7 to 13, respectively (cf. Table 2).

Reproduction. Mature specimens were found in June and October. The female gametes are globular with a diameter ranging from 129 µm to 188 µm. The gametes were located from parapodia 23 until last segment in incomplete specimens examined (Paratypes DBUA 0 1315.01, MB29-000226). The male gametes of Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. are located posteriorly to chaetiger 18 in an incomplete specimen (Paratype MB29-000227). The male gametes have a long tail and a subspherical nucleus with diameter between 2.3 and 3.0 µm.

Type locality. Portuguese continental shelf.

Etymology. The name of the species refers to the type locality, the Iberian Peninsula.

Distribution and habitat. Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. was found in the Portuguese continental shelf at depths ranging from 18 to 180 m (cf. Table 3 ). The specimens inhabit mainly finer sediments with high content of fines, biogenic fraction and TOM ( Table 3 ). The Galician shelf and the Gulf of Cádiz shelf (northwestern and southern Iberia) present extensive mud patches being a continuity of the muddy areas recorded in the shelf off the rivers Minho and Guadiana ( Dias et al. 2002; Gonzalez et al. 2004; Martins et al. 2012). These sediments seem to be preferred by this species and therefore it is expected to be found in those shelf areas.

Discussion. Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. is the third species described in the genus, together with G. s h i n o i i and G. thailandensis . Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. and G. thailandensis differ from G. s h i n o i i in the shape of composite multidentate hooded hooks (CMHH). The former species have CMHH with a short hood, while those of G. shinoii have a long hood (chaetiger 1 up to 18). Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. and G. thailandensis have larger prechaetal than the postchaetal lobes in the posterior parapodia, whereas in G. s h i n o i i the two lobes are of similar length. Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. differs from G. thailandensis in the shape of the prechaetal lobe of the anterior parapodia: ovoid in Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. and rounded with digitiform extension at the dorsal end in G. thailandensis . Another difference is related to the distribution of CMHH: in Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. CMHH are present up to chaetiger 9, while in G. thailandensis they occur up to chaetiger 16.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Gallardoneris iberica sp. nov. Paratype (ECOSUR 0128) A, anterior end, dorsal view; B, parapodium 4, frontal view; C, parapodium 16, frontal view; D, parapodium 88, frontal view; E, composite multidetate hooded hook, from parapodium 4; F, simple multidentate hooded hooks, from parapodium 16; G, maxillary apparatus, dorsal view; H, maxillae III; I, maxillae IV. Scale bars: A, 0.3 mm; B, C, D, 0.025 mm; E, F, 0.012 mm; G, 2.5 mm; H, I, 0.5 mm.