Nudisyllis tinihekea Knox & Cameron, 1970

San Martin, G & Hutchings, PA, 2006, Eusyllinae (Polychaeta: Syllidae) from Australia with the Description of a New Genus and Fifteen New Species, Records of the Australian Museum 58, pp. 257-370 : 281

Nudisyllis tinihekea Knox & Cameron, 1970

Fig. 17A–F

Nudisyllis tinihekea Knox & Cameron, 1970: 77 , figs 6–9.

Pionosyllis pulligera .— Augener, 1913: 221, pl. II, fig. 8, textfig. 29. Not Krohn, 1852: 251.

Pionosyllis samsonensis Hartmann-Schröder, 1980: 52 , figs 39– 43; 1981: 32; 1982: 65. 1983: 130; 1984: 20; 1985: 69; 1986: 41; 1987: 38; 1991: 35.

Material examined. AUSTRALIA: NEW SOUTH WALES: Barrenjoey Head, Broken Bay , 33°35'S 151°20'E, algae on rocky substrate, 4 m, coll. J.K. Lowry & party 22 Apr 1983, 1 ( AM W28966) . WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Red Bluff, Kalbarri , 27°42'S 114°09'E, seagrass in shallow sand on rocky shore, 3.5 m, coll. R.T. Springthorpe, 10 Jan 1984, 2 ( AM W28968) ; Red Bluff, Kalbarri , 27°42'S 114°09'E, mixed coralline algae on rocky shore, 3.5 m, coll. J.K. Lowry, 10 Jan 1984, several ( AM W28970) ; Inshore limestone reef, Ned’s Camp, Cape Range National Park , 21°59'S 113°55'E, frilly Caulerpa sp. , 1 m, coll. J.K. Lowry, 2 Jan 1984, several ( AM W28971) ; Inside outer Ningaloo Reef, Cape Range National Park , 21°59.5'S 113°54.5'E, mixed algae, 2 m, coll. J.K. Lowry, 1 Jan 1984, 2 ( AM W28364) ; Inshore limestone reef, Ned’s Camp, Cape Range National Park , 21°59'S 113°55'E, sponge covered with epiphytes, sediment & muddy worm tubes, 1.5 m, coll. R.T. Springthorpe, 2 Jan 1984, 2 ( AM W28969) ; N end of beach, Bundegi Reef, Exmouth Gulf , 21°49'S 114°11'E, rocky rubble, coralline algae with green epiphyte, 1.5 m, coll. H.E. Stoddart, 4 Jan 1984, 1 ( AM W28967) .

Description. Body up to 3.1 mm long with 34 chaetigers, according to literature, longest specimen examined 1.2 mm long, 0.2 mm wide, with 16 chaetigers, extremely fragile, several specimens lack most appendages, others having lost all antennae, tentacular and dorsal cirri. Prostomium squared to pentagonal, densely covered by long cilia on posterior margin and laterals ( Fig. 17A), 4 eyes in trapezoidal arrangement, located laterally on prostomium; median antenna inserted on middle of prostomium, fusiform, distally tapered, slightly longer than combined length of prostomium and palps; lateral antennae inserted on anterior margin, slightly shorter than median antenna ( Fig. 17A). Palps short, broad, oval. Peristomium dorsally reduced, covered by chaetiger 1 ( Fig. 17A); dorsal tentacular cirri long, about twice as long as median antenna; ventral tentacular cirri about one third length of dorsal ones. Dorsal cirri smooth, thick, distally tapered, long on anterior segments, from proventricle posteriorly, cirri consist of long and short cirri that alternate; long cirri longer than body width, and short cirri, shorter than body width ( Fig. 17A). Parapodia conical, ending with rounded papilla, provided with some tufts of cilia. Ventral cirri digitiform, shorter than parapodial lobes. Compound chaetae similar throughout, 15 anteriorly, 7 posteriorly, blades elongated, distally slightly hooked, unidentate, longer ones with subdistal spine, smooth or provided with fine spines on margin ( Fig. 17C); dorsoventral gradation in length within fascicle, about 42 µm in length dorsally, 15 µm in length ventrally. Dorsal and ventral simple chaetae on far posterior parapodia, slender, smooth, unidentate ( Fig. 17D,F).Acicula solitary, with tricuspidate tip ( Fig. 17E). Pharynx short, through 2 segments; single pharyngeal tooth on anterior margin ( Fig. 17A). Proventricle barrel-shaped, through 3 segments, with about 20 muscle cell rows. Pygidium semi-circular, with 2 anal cirri, similar in shape and length to long dorsal cirri ( Fig. 17B).

Habitat. Occurring on coralline algae, mixed algae, Caulerpa , seagrasses on sand, sand with debris, sponges with epibionts in shallow depths.

Distribution. New Zealand, Australia (New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Queensland).