Micronereis bansei (Hartmann-Schröder, 1979)

Fig. 3A

Quadricirra bansei Hartmann-Schröder, 1979: 121–122, figs 227–237.

Micronereis bansei .— Paxton 1983: 11–12, figs 14–27; Glasby 2015: 215–217, fig. 2D.

Type locality. Gantheaume Point, Broome, Western Australia .

Material examined. Western Australia: Cooke Point, Port Hedland, 20°18′9.71″S 118°38′21.00″E, 1 November 2020, 1 specimen (WAM V11623) .

Description. A complete specimen with 17 chaetigers, body 1.7 mm long and 0.2 mm wide; cream yellow in alcohol.

Prostomium longer than wide. Eyes reddish black, two pairs, in trapezoidal arrangement, outer ones longer. Palps minute, simple, directed ventrally. Antennae absent. Tentacular cirri four pairs, smooth, longest one extending to chaetiger 3.

Apodous segment reduced. First chaetiger uniramous. Notopodia and neuropodia widely separated, comprising a single lobe each, subtriangular distally. Dorsal and ventral cirri cirriform, attached near edge of parapodia, similar length throughout all chaetigers. Small accessory cirri present on ventral side of notopodia and dorsal side of neuropodia.

Notochaetae and neurochaetae present with homogomph spinigers, shafts with weak septa (Fig. 3A). All spinigerous blades long, with fine serrations. Pygidium present with very short anal cirri.

Remarks. This specimen is juvenile, and therefore the identification is tentative. The adult species consist of 20–22 chaetigers (Paxton 1983). Accessory parapodial cirri are absent in females (Hartmann-Schröder 1979).

Distribution. Australia: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales; Egypt: Port Said (Table 2).

Habitat. Intertidal, 2-18 m, rocky shores, sand (Table 2).