Zootaxa, Taxonomy of Serpulidae (Annelida ... - Magnolia Press

Membranopsis Bush, 1910
Type-species: Membranopsis inconspicua Bush, 1910
Number of species: 1
Tube not known. Specimen without branchial crown, thus all radiolar characters not known. Mouth palps not
known. 9 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar quadrilobed; thoracic membranes wide, forming apron;
tonguelets between ventral and lateral collar lobes not known. Collar chaetae damaged, apparently limbate.
Subsequent chaetae limbate. Apomatus chaetae present from 7 th chaetiger onwards. Uncini [along entire
body?] similar to those in Protula and Apomatus. Abdominal chaetae “curved somewhat in crescent shape
rather narrow and abruptly tapering toward the tip” [? thus sickle-shaped?]. Achaetous anterior abdominal
zone, long posterior capillary chaetae and glandular pad not known.
Remarks. This monotypic taxon is ill-defined and known from Bush’s (1910) very sketchy original
description only. Based on type comparison (by Gayle Playa, pers. comm.), Membranopsis inconspicua is
most likely synonymous with Salmacinopsis setosa Bush, 1910, also with 9 thoracic chaetigers, probably a
Protula species, an opinion shared with Chamberlin (1919a: 479); the latter taxon was referred to Protula
setosa by Perkins (1998: 95). Since the generic name had not been formally synonymized yet, we mention it
in this account, without number, but we regard it to be an invalid genus.
21. Metavermilia Bush, 1905
(Fig. 28)
Type-species: Vermilia multicristata Philippi, 1844
Number of species: 14
Tube white, opaque, peristomes may be present, as well as several longitudinal keels, sometimes denticulate.
Granular overlay generally absent. Operculum with chitinous, non-calcified endplate, sometimes with
complex multi-tiered structures, or endplate may be absent. Peduncle flattened, ribbon-like, without distal
wings; formed from second dorsal radiole on one side. Constriction may be present. Pseudoperculum may be
present. Radioles arranged in semi-circles to short pectinate, up to 18 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane and
stylodes absent. Branchial eyes may be present. Mouth palps absent. 7 thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar
trilobed, tonguelets between ventral and lateral collar lobes absent. Length of thoracic membranes variable,
ending at thoracic segments 3–7, sometimes forming ventral apron on anterior abdominal segments. Collar
chaetae limbate (Fig. 28A). Apomatus chaetae present (Fig. 28B). Thoracic uncini saw-shaped with up to 15
teeth, anterior tooth blunt, rounded (Fig. 28C). Triangular depression absent. Abdominal chaetae with flat
narrow geniculate blade with rounded teeth (Fig. 28E); uncini saw- or rasp-shaped (Fig. 28D). Achaetous
anterior abdominal zone absent. Posterior capillary chaetae and glandular pad present.
Remarks. The genus Metavermilia was revised and emended by Zibrowius (1971b) for four species;
since then 10 more species have been added (see Nishi et al. 2007 for history and literature review).
Specimens of M. acanthophora have a pseudoperculum (as mentioned for AM W3629 by Dew (1959) and
ZMA V.Pol. 4701); another in the Queensland Museum (G 3905) has 2 opercula, one elaborate with three
chitinous diabolos and spine, the other simple with a single chitinous endplate with spine.
1. Metavermilia acanthophora (Augener, 1914), Indo-West Pacific, South Japan to Australia
2. Metavermilia annobonensis Zibrowius, 1971b, Annobón, Western Africa; records from elsewhere should
be checked
3. Metavermilia arctica Kupriyanova, 1993d, off Greenland, off Norway, Arctic Ocean
4. Metavermilia gravitesta Imajima, 1978, Izu Islands, Japan
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