Kirkegaardia Blake, 2016

Blake, James A., 2019, New species of Cirratulidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from abyssal depths of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, North Equatorial Pacific Ocean, Zootaxa 4629 (2), pp. 151-187 : 179

Genus Kirkegaardia Blake, 2016

Type-species: Monticellina heterochaeta Laubier, 1961 . Blake (2016) by original designation.

Monticellina Laubier, 1961 . Junior homonym of Monticellina Westblad, 1953 .

Diagnosis. (after Blake 2016). Bitentaculate cirratulids with distinct body regions and all setae distally pointed. Pre-setigerous area typically elongate, cylindrical, with short, blunt prostomium and long peristomium with none to many weakly developed annulations; dorsal tentacles arising on posterior margin of peristomium, anterior to setiger 1. Thoracic notopodia often shifted dorsally, elevated, producing distinct dorsal groove along thoracic region; other species with thoracic parapodia more lateral, leaving broad elevated dorsum; parapodia of middle and posterior regions lateral. Middle body segments longer than wide, frequently beadlike; posterior segments wider than long, somewhat crowded, with posteriormost segments usually expanded or enlarged. Setae include simple capillaries with fibrils observed under SEM and denticulated capillaries with distinct denticles present along one edge of seta; denticles visible at 400– 1000x; blades usually basally expanded.

Remarks. In conjunction with the establishment of Kirkegaardia as a replacement name for Monticellina, Blake (2016) described 16 new species including K. fragilis from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. A single specimen labeled Tharyx sp. A. from the ECHO I material has been determined to be K. fragilis . Another specimen from the BIE samples was also identified.