Genus Sphaerosyllis Claparede, 1863 



TYPE SPECIES: Sphaerosyllis hystrix Claparede, 1863. 

 REFERENCES: 

 Imajima, 1966:400. 

 Day, 1967:275. 

 Fauchald, 1977a:84. 



DIAGNOSIS: Prostomium with three antennae; palps fused dorsally over 

 most or entire length. One pair of tentacular cirri. Nuchal organs 

 inconspicuous. Antennae, tentacular, and dorsal cirri usually onion- 

 shaped, i.e. with bulbous bases and slender tips. Pharynx armed with 

 single dorsal tooth. Body usually with glandular papillae. 

 REMARKS: Investigators working with Gulf of Mexico material are referred 

 to Perkins (1981) for an excellent treatment of 13 species of 

 Sphaerosyllis , including eight new species, mostly from Florida. 



Key to the Gulf of Mexico BLM-OCS Species of Sphaerosyllis 



la. Prostomium with six eyes (Figure 30-18a); pygidium with three anal 

 cirri Sphaerosyllis longicauda, p. 30-24 



lb. Prostomium with four eyes (Figure 30-20a); pygidium with two anal 

 cirri 2 



2a. Parapodial glands conspicuous, filled with rods (Figure 30-20a) . 

 3 



2b. Parapodial glands filled with spheres or granules, or inconspic- 

 uous 4 



3a. Setae of midbody region ankylose (Figure 30-20d) 



Sphaerosyllis aciculata, p. 30-27 



3b. Setae of midbody region composite (Figure 30-22d) 



Sphaerosyllis taylori, p. 30-29 



4a. Superior composite falcigers of anterior region with long blades 

 (Figure 30-24c) Sphaerosyllis pirif eropsis, p. 30-31 



4b. Superior composite falcigers of anterior region with short blades 

 (Figure 30-26c) Sphaerosyllis glandulata, p. 30-33 



Sphaerosyllis longicauda Webster and Benedict, 1887 

 Figures 30-17, 18a-f 



Sphaerosyllis longicauda Webster and Benedict 1887:720, pi. 3, figs. 35- 



39. 



Sphaerosyllis erinaceus — Gardiner, 1976:131, fig. lOs-v. 



Sphaerosyllis longicauda — Perkins, 1981:1127, figs. 20a-c, 21a-i. 



MATERIAL EXAMINED: 



Gulf of Mexico BLM-OCS: 



MAFLA 2316C-8/76 (1 spec), 2420E-7/76 (1 spec), 2421A-11/77 (1 spec), 



2423J-7/76 (1 spec), 2424B-7/76 (1 spec), 2424-7/76 (2 spec, USNM 



55833). 



30-24 



