Chone uebelackerae Tovar-Hernández, 2005, sp. nov.

Chone uebelackerae sp. nov.

Figure 12 A– O, 13A–D

Chone sp. A Uebelacker, 1984: 54 –14, 54–17, Fig. 54–9, 10 a–m.

Material examined

Type material: Holotype [FSBC I 34707] EJ73430: St. Lucie County, Hutchinson Island, East of F. P. & L. Electrical generating plant, 27° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 9.7 m. Paratypes: [FSBC I 34709] EJ72125 (1), St. Lucie County, Hutchinson Island, East of F. P. & L. Electrical generating plant, 27° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 10.3 m. [FSBC I 34699] EJ71417, 27 ° 21’ 23’’ N, 80° 13’ 24’’ W, 11.2 m (1). [FSBC I 34694] EJ71428, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 11.2 m (1 mounted in gold for SEM). [FSBC I 34701] EJ71429, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 11.2 m (1). [FSBC I 3470] EJ71430 (1), 27° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 11.2 m (1). [FSBC I 34702] EJ71450, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 06’’ W, 10.9 m (3). [FSBC I 34697] EJ72154, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 10.9 m (1). [FSBC I 34695] EJ72164, 27 ° 21’ 23’’ N, 80° 13’ 24’’ W, 11.2 m (1). [FSBC I 34705] EJ72167, 27 ° 21’ 23’’ N, 80° 13’ 24’’ W, 11.2 m (2). [FSBC I 34698] EJ72177, 27 ° 20’ 24’’ N, 80° 13’ 04’’ W, 10.3 m (1). [FSBC I 34700] EJ72178, 27 ° 20’ 24’’ N, 80° 13’ 04’’ W, 10.3 m (1). [FSBC I 34711] EJ72182, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 11.8 m (5). [FSBC I 34703] EJ72184, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 11.8 m (1). [FSBC I 34696] EJ72193, 27 ° 21’ 23’’ N, 80° 13’ 24’’ W, 10.9 m (1). [FSBC I 34710] EJ73412, 27 ° 21’ 23’’ N, 80° 13’ 24’’ W, 10 m (1). [FSBC I 34708] EJ73432, 27 ° 22’ 08’’ N, 80° 13’ 46’’ W, 9.7 m (3, 1 mounted in gold for SEM).

Non­type materials: Western Florida [USNM 90373] MAFLA, Sta. IV–2423, Apachicola River, 29° 37’ 01’’ N, 84° 17’ 00’’ W, Coll. BLM, August 1977, 19 m (1). [USNM 90374] MAFLA, Sta. II–2211, Off St. Petersburg, 27° 56’ 30’’ N, 83° 53’ 00’’ W, Coll. BLM, August 1977, Sta. 112211, 43 m (2). Texas [USNM 90370] Hospital Rock, STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, July 1976, Sta. HR 1, 75 m (2). [USNM 90371] STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, March 1976, Sta. HR1, 75 M, Acc. 340739 (1). [USNM 90378] STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, March 76, HR 1, 75 m, Acc. 370439 (1). [USNM 90379] STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, March 1976, Sta. HR 1, 75 m, Acc. 340739 (3). [USNM 90381] STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, November 1976, Sta. HR 1, 75 m (1). [USNM 90382] STOCS, Sta. HR1, 27 ° 32’ 05’’ N, 96° 28’ 19’’ W, Coll. BLM, Nov. 1976, Sta. HR 1, 75 m (3). [USNM 90376] STOCS, Sta. SB3, Southern Bank Texas, 27° 26’ 06’’ N, 96° 31’ 47’’ W, Coll. BLM, August 1976, Sta. S 133, 82 m (4).

Description (in parenthesis variation of paratypes)

Color, body shape and size: Body pale in preserved material; cylindrical in thorax and anterior part of abdomen, depressed in posterior part of abdomen (Figures 12 A, 13A); BoL= 4.75 mm (6), W= 1 mm (1.25).

Branchial crown: BrCL= 3.5 mm, RML/BrCL= 0.75/1 (Figure 13 B). Radioles: 9 (8–9) pairs, broad flanges, pinnules long with similar length throughout radiole, RT= longsized [14 pinnules] (Figures 12 D–E, 13B). BrL= small, not exposed beyond collar (Figure 13 B). DL= 3 times longer than wide, without a discernable longitudinal ridge (Figure 12 G). DRA= 3 pairs, united by a membrane (Figure 12 F). VL= rounded, as longer than wide, about three quarters of DL length (Figure 12 G). VRA= 4 pairs, the inner one about one quarter of the BrCL, others about one half of the BrCL (Figures 12 F, 13B).

Peristomium: APRL= not exposed beyond collar, ventral margin distally entire, long, triangular (Figures 12 A–B, 13B). PPRC= antero­dorsal, lateral and ventral collar margins entire, ventral slightly higher than dorsal (Figure 12 A–C), longitudinal grooves in lateral sides, dorso­lateral pockets well developed. VSC= swollen, horseshoe­shaped, 2 times wider than long (Figure 12 A). PPRCL/ Ch 1L= 1.5/1.

Thorax: Chaetiger 1= Notopodia: two groups of 4–6 elongate, narrowly hooded chaetae. Chaetigers 2 to 8= Notopodia: SG= 2 rows of 5–6 elongate, narrowly hooded chaetae; IG= 1 anterior row with 5 short bayonet chaetae (Figure 12 J), 2 posterior rows with 6 symmetrical, paleate chaetae with short mucro (Figure 12 K–L). Neuropodia: 1 row of 8–20 acicular uncini per torus, MF= 4, covering one half of the MF length (Figure 13 C), teeth above MF unequal in size, basal tooth bigger than teeth in distal rows, hood present (Figure 12 M), handles long. GR2= narrow, of same width around the segment.

Abdomen: AS = 33 (29). Anterior segments: 2 transverse rows of 8 elongate, narrowly hooded chaetae, chaetae from the upper row 50% shorter than chaetae in lower row; 12 uncini per torus, MF= 4, covering one half of the MF length, teeth above MF equal in size, breast rectangular, well developed, main fang not extending beyond breast, handles absent (Figure 12 I). Posterior segments: 2–3 modified, elongate, narrowly hooded chaetae, 25% longer than in anterior segments; 5–9 modified uncini per torus, MF= 7, covering three quarters of the MF length (Figure 13 D), teeth above MF equal in size, breast rectangular, poorly developed, main fang not extending beyond breast, handles absent (Figures 12 N– O). Pygidium triangular, depressed (Figures 12 A, H).

Gametes: Females with oocytes of different size in abdomen.

MGS: Solid color on ventral shield of collar, except the distal end. Dorsal and ventrally, body stains uniformly, except intersegmental lines and pre and post­chaetal lobes.

Remarks: Chone uebelackerae sp. nov., C. americana and C. magna (Moore, 1923) are similar in having long radiolar tips; however, they differ because C. uebelackerae sp.

nov. and C. magna lack pygidial cirri (present in C. americana); radiolar membrane extends three quarters of the branchial crown length (one half in C. americana); flanges are broad (narrow in C. americana and C. magna); the posterior peristomial ring collar length is 1.5 times as long as the first chaetiger (2 times longer in C. magna); and uncini from posterior abdominal segments are Amphicorina ­ type (absent in C. magna).

Etymology: This species is named after Joan Uebelacker who first identified part of the materials herein included as a possible new species, and for her many contributions for the Taxonomic Atlas of the Gulf of Mexico polychaetes.