Dysponetus cf. caecus (Langerhans, 1880) Fig. 2B, C

Diagnosis.

Prostomium truncate, with three short antennae and two short palps. No eyes. Large mouth cirrus and pair of rod-like stylets. Two pairs of cirriform tentacular cirri on segments 1 and 2; segments one and two fused; dorsal cirri segment 1 very long, notopodia 2 with notochaetae. Mid-body notopodia with two lengths of semi-erect, golden-coloured notochaetal fascicles: short, broad and long, slender, spines with two rows of spinelets; elongate cirrophores and long dorsal styles. Neuropodia with fascicle of very slender falcigerous neurochaetae with very long shafts; ventral cirri longer than neuropodia.

Remarks.

Similar to, but differs from abyssal East Atlantic Dysponetus cf. caecus (sensu Böggemann 2009; Watson et al. 2014) in possession of broad short spines with less spinulation. Dysponetus caecus is currently considered a global species complex.

Records.

48 specimens. Suppl. material 1: ops. 11, 23, 40, 76, 98, 110, 134 (AM). 2 specimens. Suppl. material 1: op. 100 (NHMUK).