Aurospio

Aurospio dibranchiata

Family: 
Spionidae
Genus: 
Aurospio
Species binomial name, or informal name: 
Aurospio dibranchiata
Authority: 
Maciolek, 1981
Description: 

New record from EqPac study. Branchiae flattened, digiform.

Specimen Number: 
EP470
Repository: 
Natural History Museum
Cruise: 
EqPac
Ocean basin: 
Central Equatorial Pacific
Sample: 
BC 17 5°N 0-1cm
Sampling gear: 
USNEL Box Core
Depth: 
4400m
Collector: 
Adrian Glover

Location

United States
5° 0' 3.6" N, 140° 0' 3.6" W

Aurospio sp. nov. "FOODBANCS"

Family: 
Spionidae
Genus: 
Aurospio
Species binomial name, or informal name: 
Aurospio sp. nov. "FOODBANCS"
Authority: 
Adrian Glover
Material Examined: 
Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, 550m, megacore sample FBIII-A CRS682, 1 holotype, megacore sample FBV-A/CRS741 2 paratypes, megacore sample FBI-A CRS456 1 paratype, additional 90 specimens examined. Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, 590m, megacore sample FBII-B CRS525, 1 paratype Megacore sample FBIV-B/CRS704, 2 paratypes USNMXXXX, additional 120 specimens. Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica, 560m, 20 specimens. Weddell Sea, Antarctica, 1970m, ANDEEP epibenthic sledge sample 150-6, 1 specimen. Weddell Sea, Antarctica, 4651m, ANDEEP epibenthic sledge sample 59-5, 1 specimen. Weddell Sea, Antarctica, 1047m ANDEEP epibenthic sledge sample 74-6, 1 specimen. Weddell Sea, Antarctica, 4817m, ANDEEP epibenthic sledge sample 102-13, 1 specimen.
Voucher: Ocean Basin: 
Bellingshausen Sea
Voucher: Cruise/Expedition: 
FOODBANCS
Voucher: Location: 
65 10'S 64 46'W
Voucher: Depth: 
570m
Voucher: Sample: 
FBIII-A CRS 682
Voucher: Repository: 
Natural History Museum
Description: 

Small, spioniform polychaete of near-uniform width, holotype entire, 8.1mm long for 51 segments, maximum width 0.27mm (Fig. 2c). Most specimens are anterior fragments, with palps missing. Color in alcohol is pale yellow, without pigmentation (Fig. 2c). Prostomium rounded, slightly longer than wide, extending to the beginning of chaetiger 2 as a raised keel (Fig. 2b, 4a), without prostomial peaks, eyes or occipital tentacle. Nuchal organs indistinct. Palps, when not lost, grooved and extending to one-third body length (Fig. 2a).

Notopodial lamellae of chaetiger 2,3 enlarged, leaf-shaped and dorsally pointed, largest on chaetiger 3, shielding branchiae (Fig. 2b, 4a). Highly reduced in chaetiger 1, small and rounded in chaetiger 4 onwards, forming small dorsal crests from chaetiger 9 onwards (Fig. 4a). Neuropodial lamellae of chaetiger 1 reduced to a small lobe, rounded on chaetiger 2, rounded and dorsally projecting on chaetiger 3, thereafter small and rounded. First appearance of branchiae on chaetiger 3, and absent from all other chaetigers. Branchiae smooth, digiform, smaller than notopodial lamellae, often shielded and difficult to observe (Fig. 2b,c, 4a).

Chaetae of 3 types, capillaries, hooded hooks and sabre chaetae (Fig. 3). Anterior chaetae, to chaetiger 10, exclusively long capillaries. Granulated, thickened sabre chaetae present from chaetiger 10, multidentate hooded hooks from chaetiger 11 in the neuropodia and chaetiger 32 in notopodia (Fig. 3, 4b). Hooded hooks, under oil-immersion light microscopy, with 4 visible teeth above the main fang. Under electron microscopy, hood and shaft covered with fine denticles and a total of 13 teeth observed in 2 rows (Fig. 3c). Largest and following 2 teeth with rows fused, subsequently rows alternating with separation between teeth increasing (Fig. 3c).

Pygidium with one long medio-dorsal cirrus and two short lateral cirri (Fig. 2c).

Illustrations: 

The image attached illustrates the general view of the animal and a detailed drawing of the head, showing the shape of the prostomium, branchial pair, dorsal lamellae.

Location

United States
65° 9' 36" S, 64° 46' 48" W

Aurospio

Authority: 
Maciolek, 1981
Type species: 

Aurospio dibranchiata

Diagnosis: 

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