COMPLETE HARTMAN : POLYCHAETES FROM CALIFORNIA 87 



The specific name refers to the straplike character of the branchiae. 



Family APISTOBRANCHIDAE 



This is a small family known for few genera and species. Each genus 

 is monotypic, and their species come from widely scattered geographic 

 areas. They are Apistobranchus tullbergi (Theel) 1879, from Novaya 

 Zembla, Ethocles typicus Webster and Benedict, 1887, from Massa- 

 chusetts, and Skardaria fragmentata Wesenberg-Lund, 1951, from Ice- 

 land. 



These species share few features in common. All have uniramous 

 parapodia provided only with simple, distally pointed setae. Dorsal cirri 

 occur on segments 1 to 7, and lack prostomial eyes or antennae. Apisto- 

 branchus, for which the family is named, lacks paired palpi; they are 

 present in Ethocles and Skardaria, giving them a spionid-like appearance. 



Key to Species 



1. Without paired palpi; first 4 segments with ventral lobes 



Apistobranchus tullbergi 



1. With paired, spionid-like palpi 2 



2. First 3 segments with ventral lobe . . Ethocles typicus 

 2. Second to fourth segments with ventral lobe .... 



Skardaria jragmentata 



Genus Skardaria Wesenberg-Lund, 1951 



Type Skardaria fragmentata Wesenberg-Lund, 1951 



Skardaria fragmentata Wesenberg-Lund, 1951 



Wesenberg-Lund, 1951, pp. 59-65, figs. 1-4. 



Collections. Scattered individuals come from VELERO IV Stations 

 4817 (3), 4785 (2), 4820 (4), 5558 (1), 5741 (2). 



All are small, posteriorly fragmented ; the largest measures about 5 

 mm long and may be 2/3 complete. The prostomium is broadly rounded 

 in front, lacks eyes, and has at its posterior margin the insertion of the 

 short palpi ; they resemble straplike branchiae or spionid-like palpi. 



The first branchiae, resembling the palpi, are present from the second 

 setigerous segment. Branchiae are continued on successive segments 

 through at least 12 pairs. The first 7 parapodial pairs differ abruptly 

 from the others; they are provided with full, dense fascicles of long, 



