subterrainal dorsal tooth. Proventricle located In setlgers 4-5, with 12 

 (10-15) obscure rows of muscle cells. Gametes present in mature speci- 

 mens beginning in setigers 11-13. 



REMARKS: Perkins (1981:1136) described S. piriferopsis as always lack- 

 ing parapodial glands. However, in some BLM-OCS specimens these glands 

 are present as small, inconspicuous structures becoming more distinct 

 posteriorly. Specimens were previously identified as Sphaerosyllis 

 pirif era in BLM-OCS collections. S. piriferopsis is newly reported from 

 the Gulf of Mexico. 



PREVIOUSLY REPORTED HABITAT: To 11 m; coarse calcareous sand; sand, 

 shell and coral rubble with Thalassia , Penicillus and Halimeda cover; 

 submerged plastic sponges. 



GULF OF MEXICO BLM-OCS OCCURRENCE: Common in eastern and western Gulf 

 (Figure 30-23); 10-189 m; coarse to fine-very fine sand, silty fine to 

 very fine sand, clayey to sandy silt. 

 DISTRIBUTION: Bahamas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico. 



Sphaerosyllis glandulata Perkins, 1981 

 Figures 30-25, 26a-e 



Sphaerosyllis glandulata Perkins, 1981:1123, figs. 18a-c, 19a-j. 



MATERIAL EXAMINED: 

 Gulf of Mexico BLM-OCS: 



MAFLA 2423J-7/76 (2 spec, USNM 65686), 2531K-2/78 (9 spec). 

 Supplementary Material: 



Florida--Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie County, T. Perkins ID., FSBC I 

 23583 (1 female paratype), 23585 (3 paratypes), 23591 (1 male, 1 female 

 paratypes) . 

 DESCRIPTION: 



Length, to 4.2 mm (previously reported to 7 mm); width, to 0.25 mm 

 (previously reported to 0.18 mm without parapodia). Body slender, 

 thread-like; complete specimens with up to 46 setigers. Papillae fairly 

 long, scattered. Prostomium oval, with four small lentigerous eyes in 

 trapezoidal arrangement (Figure 30-26a). Antennae onion-shaped, median 

 antenna inserted at posterior border of prostomium, lateral antennae at 

 anterior border. Palps straight, thick, fused dorsally, about twice as 

 long as prostomium. Tentacular and dorsal cirri onion-shaped; dorsal 

 cirri absent on setiger 2. Ventral cirri digitiform, usually shorter 

 than parapodia. Anal cirri paired, subulate, at least twice as long as 

 posterior dorsal cirri. Parapodial glands usually small and inconspic- 

 uous anteriorly, more distinct posteriorly, present from setiger 4. 

 Superior simple seta stout, pointed (Figure 30-26b), present on all 

 setigers. Superior composite falcigers short-bladed, unidentate, with 

 several long serrations (Figure 30-26c) in anterior region; posterior 

 and inferior falcigers with few short serrations or smooth. Inferior 

 simple seta pointed, curved (Figure 30-26d), present on middle and 

 posterior setigers. Acicula solitary, stout, sharply bent at tip (Fig- 

 ure 30-26e). Pharynx extending to setiger 4, with subterminal dorsal 

 tooth. Proventricle located in setigers 4-5, with 12-13 rows of muscle 

 cells. Gametes of paratypes beginning in setigers 9-11. 



REMARKS: Perkins (1931:1114) distinguished S_. glandulata from S_. 

 piriferopsis on the presence of parapodial glands. However, both spe- 

 cies in BLM-OCS material showed evidence of parapodial glands. The 



30-33 



