Terebellinae sp. 1
Voucher. SEA LION: station 19MFA (2specimens).
Diagnosis. Two specimens, large and robust, but in bad condition, incomplete. Voucher specimen 17mm long and 3mm wide for about 16 thoracic chaetigers and about 5 abdominal uncinigers (posteriorly incomplete); body light yellow in alcohol, without pigmentation. Eyes absent. Segmental lobes not particularly enlarged, but present; segment 1 and 2 similar, low ventrally, with moderately enlarged ventrolaterally lobes; segment 3 also low ventrally, with small lateral lobes.
Branchiae present; 3 pairs on segment 1-3, these are likely damaged as only stumps observed.
Thorax with 16 chaetigers. Notochaetae from segment 3; relatively numerous, arranged in two rows, long and short, both narrowly bilimbate throughout the length of the shaft. Thoracic uncini present from chaetiger 2 (=segment 4), first 6 uncinigers with uncini in a single row, arranged in double (alternating) row from unciniger 7, until the end of the fragment. Thoracic uncini avicular, with rostrate tooth (see images for details). Abdomen unknown. Pygidium unknown.
Remarks. Generic assignment of these specimens is problematic. Presence of uncini arranged in double row, presence of branchiae and form uncini is consistent with subfamily Terebellinae. However as branchiae are likely damaged (only single stumps are present), it is difficult to assign generic ID. The specimens are therefore assigned to morphospecies Terebellinae sp. 1 until better preserved material becomes available.
