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

11. Metavermilia spicata Imajima, 1977, Japan
12. Metavermilia taenia Zibrowius, 1971b, Josephine Bank, East Atlantic
13. Metavermilia truncata Imajima, 1978, Izu Islands, Japan
14. Metavermilia yamazatoi Imajima & ten Hove, 1989, Okinawa, North-West Pacific.
22. Microprotula Uchida, 1978
Type-species: Microprotula ovicellata Uchida, 1978
Number of species: 1
Tube white, opaque, circular in cross-section, proximal part irregularly coiled and attached to substrate, distal
erect and free. Granular overlay absent. Globular ovicells around erect distal part of the tube. Operculum and
pseudoperculum absent. Arrangement of radioles semi-circular, up to 4 per lobe. Inter-radiolar membrane and
stylodes absent. 8–12 pairs of red ocellar clusters present on both sides of each radiole. Mouth palps absent. 7
thoracic chaetigerous segments. Collar well developed, with 4 weakly expressed lobes. Tonguelets absent.
Thoracic membranes narrow, but forming apron. Collar chaetae limbate. Apomatus chaetae present. Thoracic
and abdominal uncini rasp-shaped, Protula type, up to approximately 20 teeth in profile, up to 6 in a row;
anterior peg elongated, blunt, questionably gouged. Triangular depression absent. Abdominal chaetae sickleshaped
with blunt teeth. Achaetous anterior abdominal zone short. Long posterior capillary chaetae present.
Posterior glandular pad absent.
Remarks. This poorly known tiny species has never been found in the field, the material described by
Uchida (1978) comes from a population found in a marine aquarium. Some more questionable specimens
(without typical ovicells) came from “reef rock in aquarium shop in Germany, origin probably Central Indo-
Pacific” (Fosså & Nilsen 2000: 151, ZMA V.Pol. 4046). The type material was re-examined by EK. The
species is morphologically very similar to small representatives of the genus Protula (hence the name). The
major reason of its elevation into a separate genus has been the presence of tube ovicells used to brood
embryos. Microprotula may not have a phylogenetic basis, as some Protula species do show incubation of
embryos (Kupriyanova et al. 2001), admittedly not in special brood-chambers but in gelatinous masses.
Microprotula ovicellata Uchida, 1978, Sabiura, Japan.
23. Neomicrorbis Rovereto, 1904
(Fig. 29)
Type-species: Serpula crenatostriata Münster in Goldfuss, 1831 (fide Regenhardt 1961: 89); a fossil taxon
Number of Recent species: 1
Tube transparent (vitreous), circular in cross-section, with numerous longitudinal ridges consisting of small
denticles (Fig. 29C). Tube spiral, either dextral or sinistral. Granular overlay absent. Operculum with distal
calcareous plate and large talon projecting into proximal ampulla, merging into peduncle without constriction
(Fig. 29B). Peduncle second radiole right, two small distal wings. Pseudoperculum absent. Arrangement of
radioles semi-circular, 10 radioles left, 7 right. Inter-radiolar membrane, branchial eyes, and stylodes absent.
Mouth palps absent. Number of thoracic chaetigers asymmetric, 5 to the left and 6 to the right (Fig. 29A).
Collar non-lobed, tonguelets and length of thoracic membranes not known. Collar chaetae fin-and-blade and
limbate. Apomatus chaetae present in posterior thoracic segments (Fig. 29E). Thoracic uncini saw-shaped
with 12–15 teeth and rounded peg. Thoracic depression is not known. Abdominal chaetae retro-geniculate
(Fig. 29F). Abdominal uncini rasp-shaped with 14–17 teeth in profile, 3–5 in a row (Fig. 29D). Long anterior
achaetous abdominal zone. Posterior capillary chaetae present. Posterior glandular pad absent.
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