Protoariciella (?) sp. B

Figure 29

Material examined. Western Australia: Fremantle, Arthur Head, off end of South Mole, 32°03’S, 115°44’E, depth 6 m, 25.12.1983, coll. J.K. Lowry, AM W.43258, 1 specimen on SEM stub .

Description. Specimen complete; body length about 2.5 mm, 45 chaetigers, width 270 µm (Fig. 29A). Transition from thorax to abdomen indistinct (Fig. 29A). Prostomium short, round; two peristomial segments (Fig. 29B, C). Branchiae starting from chaetiger 14, first triange-cirriform, then oval; shorter than notopodia (Fig. 29B, E). Notopodial postchaetal lobes digitiform; neuropodial lobes similar, but shorter; both lobes becoming shorter in abdomen (Fig. 29 B–E). Pygidium with four short cirri (Fig. 29F). Notochaetae crenulated capillaries in all segments; forked chaetae absent (Fig. 29 C–E). Neurochaetae crenulated capillaries in thorax, capillaries and one curved serrated hook in abdomen (Fig. 29 C–E, G–J).

Remarks. This specimen is similar to Protoariciella (?) sp. A owing to chaetal shape and arrangement, while it differs owing to shorter thicker body and well developed neuropodial lobes. The specimen studied here likely represents a new species; but due to the few poorly preserved specimens and the limited knowledge of the important taxonomic characters in this genus, it is not described as a new species.