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

abdominal chaetae that are neither denticulate nor geniculate, but acicular, as well as the shape of the
operculum; however, the latter is not very characteristic, being similar to that of some Vermiliopsis spp., as
well as that of Ditrupa.
Paumotella takemoana Chamberlin, 1919, French Polynesia, Paumotu Archipelago.
Paumotella takemoana Chamberlin, 1919: 481–483, pl. 78 figs 1–5; Southward, 1963: 586 (in key only); Fauchald,
1977: 145 (opercular peduncle with wings); Uchida, 1978: 71–72 (associated with Vermiliopsis).
Material studied. French Polynesia, Paumotu Archipelago, Makemo, coral, at bottom of lagoon, 24 m (13
fm), R/V “Albatross” E. Pac. Exp. 1899–1900 ident. by Chamberlin (further details not present in internet list
of stations) (holotype, USNM 19432; 2 slides (schizotypes) MCZ).
Description. TUBE: absent, and not described by Chamberlin either.
BRANCHIAE: each lobe with 20–21 branchial radioles, arranged in semi-circles, not connected by
branchial membrane. Radioles too convoluted to observe details of pinnules, terminal filament long.
Branchial eyes not observed. Stylodes absent. Pair of mouth palps present.
PEDUNCLE: smooth, flattened circular in cross section, inserted just below left branchial lobe, covering
base of 4–5 radioles. A single lateral wing along proximal 2/3 rds of peduncle (Fig. 51E), exactly like figured
for Vermiliopsis leptochaeta Pillai, 1971; showing clear constriction just below ampulla. Pseudoperculum
absent.
OPERCULUM: globular to inverse conical with a distal slightly concave chitinous endplate, with smooth
margin, and with flat central area without further ornamentation (Fig. 51E). Length of operculum and
peduncle 4–5 mm; opercular bulb 1.4 mm, width 1.8 mm.
COLLAR and thoracic membranes: collar high, with entire edge; deep incision between ventral and
lateral collar lobes, the latter continuous with thoracic membranes, ending between chaetiger 4 and 5.
Tonguelets between ventral and lateral collar lobes absent. Internal pockets in thoracic membranes and wartlike
protuberances of collar chaetiger as in Floriprotis absent.
THORAX: with collar chaetiger, and 6 uncinigerous chaetigers. Pair of prostomial eyes not observed.
Collar chaetae broken off, but according to Chamberlin they are limbate, of two sizes. Subsequent chaetae
hooded (limbate), of two sizes. Apomatus chaetae occur in addition as well, both in slides of the type (MCZ)
as well as in rest of holotype (contrary to Chamberlin’s description, and Fauchald (1977). Uncini along entire
thorax saw-shaped, with 12 curved teeth and rounded peg. Thoracic uncinigerous tori gradually approaching
one another posteriorly, forming a triangular depression on the ventral side of the thorax.
ABDOMEN: abdominal chaetigers 56, anterior three achaetigerous. Uncini rasp-shaped, with peg and 10
teeth in profile, 2–3 teeth in a row. Chaetae faintly curved, rounded acute aciculae, 3–4 per bundle. Long
capillary chaetae present in 10–15 posterior chaetigers, broken, thus extent not entirely clear. Pygidium
clearly bilobed. Posterior glandular pad absent.
Size: length up to 23.5 mm. Width of thorax 2.1 mm. Branchiae and operculum accounting for 1/6 of
entire length.
Colour: the general colour is brownish yellow, with the parapodial processes paler. The thoracic collar is
transparent. The branchiae yellow. Operculum yellow, with the rim black (Chamberlin 1919: 482).
Ecology: no data except for those in label: coral, at bottom of lagoon, 24 m.
Remarks. Chamberlin´s original label gives as locality “Takemo”, hence the specific name of the taxon;
this mistake already was corrected in his paper to the atoll of Makemo. From the fact that Fauchald (1977:
145) attributes wings to the opercular peduncle, a character not mentioned by Chamberlin, we infer that he
probably saw the holotype. But for the presence of the absolutely unique abdominal chaetae the taxon could
easily be mistaken for a species of the genus Vermiliopsis. Uchida (1978: 71–72) also associates the genus
tentatively with Vermiliopsis sensu lato (his subfamily Vermiliopsinae). Possible relationship will be
discussed in (a) forthcoming paper(s) by us.
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