Sipunculus (Sipunculus) robustus Keferstein

Fig. 2A

Sipunculus robustus Cutler, 1994: 39 (for complete synonymy).

Material examined. One specimen (NMNS-5928-001), Chunyun, Kaoshiung County, offshore bottom trawl, coll. H.-T. Hung, 26 August 1996; one specimen (NMNS-5928-002), Tungkung, Pingtung County, offshore bottom trawls, coll. H.-T. Hung, 30 August 2000; one specimen (NMNS-5928-003), Tungkung, Pingtung County, offshore bottom trawls, coll. H.-T. Hung, 26 April 2001.

Remarks. Sipunculus robustus resembles S. nudus in appearance and the longitudinal muscle band (LMB) count of the former species is in the range of the latter species (Cutler 1994). However, S. robustus can easily be separated from S. nudus by having unattached nephridia, long and string-like brain processes and a more muscular appearance. Specimens examined in the present study have unattached nephridia. This species is known from shallow depths in warm waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. The presence of this species in the offshore subtidal benthic habitats of southwestern Taiwan is expected.