Stylopallene longicauda. Stock, 1973a: 117-119 — Staples, 1997:

1055— Sherwood et al, 1998

Remarks. The leg span is typically about 30 mm. Although not recorded by Stock, the segmentation line between trunk segments 3 and 4 is present but often obscure. The first and second pairs of lateral processes are usually more widely spaced than the remainder which are touching at their bases and narrowly separated distally. The transverse suture line in the cuticle that separates the proximal part of the proboscis from the tapered distal part was not illustrated by Stock (1973a, fig. 8b). The distal portion of the proboscis is about one-third the length of the basal part. The abdomen ranges from horizontal to slightly inclined. The oviger spines are strongly curved distally and have several irregular denticulations as illustrated by Stock (1973a, fig. 8g). The terminal claw is robust, smooth and curved inwards distally. A small tooth is variably present on the inner margin of the claw at about the point of curvature but in the specimens examined there is no evidence of a tooth on the outer margin as illustrated by Stock (1973a, fig. 8f). One or two tiny crenulations may follow the main tooth. Thirty to forty eggs are carried on each male oviger. This species is most often recorded in association with the bryozoan Amathia biseriata Krauss, 1837.

Stylopallene longicauda and S. cheilorhynchus are remarkably similar with identical colour patterns. The most conspicuous difference is evident in the legs and abdomen of S. longicauda which are longer and more slender. Little else differentiates the two species.

Analysis of seventy-nine specimens of S. longicauda collected from a single bryozoan colony in Western Port revealed only one exception to the otherwise consistent colour pattern. Records of S. longicauda outside of Western Port are rare.

Distribution Western Port, central Victoria.