Amphiglena maiteae

Amphiglena maiteae Capa & Rouse, 2007

(Fig. 1)

Amphiglena maiteae Capa & Rouse, 2007: 345 –348, figs 4I –J, 8.

Material examined. AM W.44465, MI QLD 2419; AM W.44470, MI QLD 2437.

Description of material examined. Specimens up to 2.5 mm long, 0.2 mm wide, with 7–8 thoracic and 9–19 abdominal chaetigers. Live specimens unpigmented, with orange gut observed through transparent body and with clearly distinguishable white ventral shields (Fig. 1 A). Red peristomial eyes and pygidial eyespots. Preserved specimens unpigmented with eyespots faded to dark brown (Fig. 1 B). Methyl blue stains only ventral shields in ethanol-fixed specimens (Fig. 1 C). Radiolar crown with semicircular lobes, and four pairs of radioles (Fig. 1 A). Dorsal basal flanges absent. Ventral basal flanges extend from the proximal pinnule of the ventralmost radiole, continuing and fused to the posterior peristomial ring, with a transverse incision (synapomorphy for the genus, Fig. 1 D, white arrow). Basal membrane and radiolar flanges absent. Two rows of vacuolated cells supporting radioles basally. Radiolar eyes absent. Dorsal lips with medium-length dorsal radiolar appendages. Dorsal pinnular appendages absent. Ventral lips, parallel lamellae and ventral sacs absent. Posterior peristomial ring collar absent. Glandular ridge on anterior chaetigers absent (Fig. 1 C). Interramal eyespots absent. Thoracic ventral shields separated from the neuropodial tori by a narrow gap (Fig. 1 C). First chaetiger with narrowly-hooded superior chaetae and broadly-hooded inferior notochaetae in oblique rows. Following thoracic chaetigers with low notopodia, bearing superior elongate broadly-hooded and inferior paleate chaetae (Fig. 1 E). Thoracic neuropodial uncini avicular, with more than five rows of small, similar-sized teeth covering half the main fang (Fig. 1 F), breast well developed, handle of medium length. Companion chaetae geniculate, with straight shaft and elongate mucro with a dentate appearance at base (Fig. 1 E–F). Abdominal neuropodia inconspicuous with broadly-hooded neurochaetae (Fig. 1 G). Abdominal notopodia with up to four uncini per torus, uncini with more than five rows of small similar-sized teeth above the main fang (Fig. 1 H), well developed breast, and short handle. Pre-pygidial abdominal depression absent. Pygidium conical with eyespots on lateral margins of pygidium (Fig. 1 B). Pygidial cirrus absent (Fig. 1 I). Tube unknown.

Remarks. Amphiglena maiteae is distinguished from other congeners by a unique combination of features: four pairs of radioles with about 10 pairs of pinnules that are longer towards the distal end of the radioles, ventral basal flanges from the proximal pinnule of the ventralmost radiole, extending to the posterior peristomial ring, and thoracic uncini with medium-sized handles (Capa & Rouse 2007). First record from Queensland.

Habitat. On rocks, boulders and associated algae from the intertidal. Type locality. Lennox Head, New South Wales.

Distribution. Australia (New South Wales, Queensland).