A new genus and species of bristle worm from Beibu Gulf, South China Sea (Annelida, Polychaeta, Amphinomidae).

Yue Sun,Xinzheng Li

doi:10.3897/zookeys.708.12967

Abstract

Alleurythoe, a new genus with type species Alleurythoe tenuichaeta sp. n., is described and illustrated based on material from Beibu Gulf, northwestern South China Sea. The new genus is distinguished from all genera within Amphinomidae by a combination of characters: caruncle trilobed, conspicuous, attached to and confluent with the posterior prostomial lobe, which is free from the body wall and has 6-7 folds on each of the lateral lobes; both noto- and neuropodial aciculae are spinose, extending beyond the chaetal lobe. Alleurythoe tenuichaeta sp. n. is characterized by having branchiae present from chaetiger 4 and a bifurcate neurochaetae capillary. A key distinguishing the genera of Amphinominae is provided.

Highlights

The Amphinomidae, commonly known as fireworms, are typically associated with rocky and soft bottoms in shallow tropical and subtropical waters (Fauchald 1977; Kudenov 1995)
Specimens examined in present paper are deposited in the Marine Biological Museum of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (MBMCAS) in the Institute of Oceanology (IOCAS), preserved in 75% ethanol solution
A Zeiss Stemi 2000-C stereomicroscope with an AxioCam MRc 5 digital camera was used for observations and drawing

Summary

Introduction

The Amphinomidae, commonly known as fireworms, are typically associated with rocky and soft bottoms in shallow tropical and subtropical waters (Fauchald 1977; Kudenov 1995). It has been reported that amphinomid chaetae are hollow and filled. By contrast, Tilic et al (2017) showed that chaetae of Eurythoe complanata (Pallas, 1766) are not hollow; the skin reactions are upon direct contact injury rather than from venom injections. Amphinomid species have either elongate or fusiform bodies, with caruncles generally extending posteriorly over several anterior chaetigers, branchiae ranging from bipinnate to tufts comprised of digitiform rami, with one dorsal and ventral cirrus per parapodium (Fauchald 1977; Gathof 1984; Kudenov 1995)

Objectives

Methods