Xenosyllis cf. scabra (Ehlers, 1864) 

 Figures 30-91, 92a-d 



Xenosyllis scabra — Fauvel, 1923:272, fig. 102a-c. 

 Xenosyllis scabra — Laubier, 1968:90; figs. 4-6. 



MATERIAL EXAMINED: 

 Gulf of Mexico BLM-OCS: 



SOFLA 18B-11/80 (2 spec, USNM 75313), No data (1 spec); MAFLA 2315A- 

 8/76 (5 spec), 2528-11/77 (1 spec), 2528-11/77 (1 spec, USNM 55836). 

 DESCRIPTION: 



Length, to 4.0 mm (previously reported to 4.5 mm); width, to 0.9 mm. 

 Body fairly small, flattened; complete specimens with up to 45 setigers. 

 Prostomium and dorsal body surface covered with small papillae or trans- 

 verse rows of short ridges. Prostomium trapezoidal, broader and lobed 

 anteriorly, with four lentigerous, contiguous eyes (Figure 30-92a), with 

 or without ventral eyespots. Antennae arising at anterior margin of 

 prostomium; median antenna with 6-10 articles, lateral antennae with 

 about five articles. Palps ovoid, completely separated, shorter than 

 prostomium, inserted anteroventrally. Nuchal organs lightly pigmented. 

 Peristomium with small occipital flap having crenulate anterior margin. 

 Dorsal tentacular cirri with 8-11 articles, ventral ones with 5-7 arti- 

 cles. Antennae and tentacular cirri constricted basally, sometimes 

 inflated distally, articles often collared. Dorsal cirri short, 

 spindle-shaped, with 4-10 articles. Ventral cirri auricular, extending 

 beyond parapodia. Pygidium with two triangular lobes. Superior com- 

 posite falcigers with short, bidentate blades having long, coarse serra- 

 tions (Figure 30-92b). Inferior composite falcigers with blades smooth 

 below subterminal tooth (Figure 30-92c). Inferior simple seta slender, 

 bidentate (Figure 30-92d), present posteriorly. Acicula slender anteri- 

 orly, becoming stout posteriorly, usually not emergent. Pharynx extend- 

 ing to setigers 4-14; trepan not observed. Proventricle extending from 

 setigers 5-15 to 8-18, with 14 (12-16) muscle cell rows. Pharynx up to 

 four times length of proventricle; proventricle approximately same 

 length as width. Eggs present from setiger 38 in one specimen. 

 REMARKS: Xenosyllis cf. scabra in BLM-MAFLA collections was originally 

 confused with several species of Trypanosyllis. These specimens differ 

 from X. scabra in lacking inferior unidentate falcigers. 

 PREVIOUSLY REPORTED HABITAT: 20-25 m; coralligenous and calcareous 

 sediments. 



GULF OF MEXICO BLM-OCS OCCURRENCE: Scattered records off Florida (Fig- 

 ure 30-91); 37-91 m; coarse to medium sand, silty fine sand. 

 DISTRIBUTION: Mediterranean, Atlantic, ?Gulf of Mexico. 



Genus Eurysyllis Ehlers, 1864 



TYPE SPECIES: Eurysyllis tuberculata Ehlers, 1864. 



REFERL^CES: 



Fauvel, 1923:271. 



Laubier, 1^68:94. 



Hartmann-Schroder, 1971:164. 



Fauchald, 1977a:82. 



DIAGNOSIS: Body short, dorsoventrally flattened. Prostomium with three 



antennae. Two pairs of tentacular cirri. Antennae, tentacular and 



30- 



