Syllinae Rioja, 1925
Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818
Syllis sp. 1
Vouchers. VINSON WEST: station 5MFB.
Diagnosis. Voucher is a single specimen collected, complete specimen in good condition; small, slender species; 8.5mm long and 0.3mm wide for 65 chaetigers; body in alcohol pale yellow, integument smooth.
Prostomium pentagonal bearing three antennae and two palps. Palps distinctly longer than prostomium, broadly triangular lobes, basally free from each other. Antennae long, thin, distinctly articulated, positioned anteriorly to eyes; lateral antennae slightly shorter (with around 25 articulations) than median antenna. Eyes present, 2 pairs, reddish, very small. Pharyngeal tube extending through 8 chaetigers, proventricle with small muscle rings extending through chaetigers 9-17, partially extended with single dorsal tooth positioned near anterior margin of pharynx. First segment achaetous laterally with a pair of long, slender, distinctly articulated tentacular cirri (similar to antenna).
Parapodia uniramous; with short, slender, distinctly articulated dorsal cirri, similar to tentacular cirri and antennae, but much shorter, of alternating lengths, longer ones with about 15 and shorter ones with around 10 articulations; ventral cirri only weakly articulated, slender, just about reaching the tip parapodia, inserted medially. In mid-body chaetiger parapodia with 2 aciculae (not protruding) through integument, one with spatula-like tip, and another with subdistally bulge and tapering tip.
Chaetae all compound falcigers, about 12 per fascicle; with varying length of blades (but no true spinigers), distally bidentate with curved tip and serrated margins. Pygidium rounded lobe with 2 very long, weakly articulated lateral cirri.
Remarks. Although FI specimen is in a good condition, assigning it to a named species is difficult due to taxonomic complexities of the species rich genus Syllis and resulting confusion of taxonomic reports. Revision of Syllis species from the region will be necessary, including clarification of reports of Northern European species reported from the area.
