122 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 27 



Hole region, sexual epitokes appear in the surface waters during the 

 last of July to tlie middle of September (Verrill, 1882). 



Material examined. — Numerous specimens from Massachusetts 

 (Woods Hole region, Vineyard Sound, Cape Cod Bay), Connecticut 

 (Noank), Long Island Sound, North Carolina. 



Distribution. — Massachusetts to North Carolina, English Channel 

 to Mediterranean. In 4 to 18 fathoms; sexual epitokes in surface 

 waters. 



Genus Odontosyllis Claparede, 1863 



Type (monotypy) : Odontosyllis gibba Claparede, 1863. Contains 

 only one New England species. 



Odontosyllis fulgurans Claparede, 1864 



Figure 35c 



Eusyllis lucifer Verrill, 1875, p. 39. 



Odontosyllis lucifera Verrill, 1879, p. 170; 1881, pp. 314, 320, pi. 12, fig. 1; 1882, 



p. 368. — Sumner, Osbiirn, and Cole, 1913, p. 615.— Hartman, 1944a, p. 338, 



pi. 24, figs. 3-4.— Miner, 1950, p. 298. 

 Odontosyllis fulgurans Webster, 1879, p. 220; 1886, p. 137.— Fauvel, 1923, p. 274, 



fig. 103,/-z.— Miner, 1950, p. 298.— Banse, 1959, p. 430. 



Description. — Length up to 22 mm., width without setae up to 

 1 mm., segments up to 100. Body flattened, strongly arched dorsally, 

 fragile, breaking up easily. Prostomium suboval, notched posteriorly, 

 with 2 pairs of rather large eyes and usually with an additional pair of 

 minute ocular spots near the palps. Palps broad and short, well 

 separated except at the base where they are fused, often curled 

 ventraUy. Antennae rather short, scarcely surpassing the palps, the 

 median one longer than the lateral pair. 



Tentacular achaetous segment with 2 pairs tentacular cirri, with a 

 semicircular nuchal hood covering the posterior part of the prosto- 

 mium, the border of the nuchal hood being ciliated (fig. 35c) . Parapodia 

 with compound setae with short bidentate blades. Dorsal cirri of 

 first setiger longer than the antennae, the rest generally alter- 

 nately longer and shorter, nearly equal to the body width; ventral 

 cirri short and wide. Proboscis with 6-7 large recurved teeth. 

 Body yellowish white. 



When mature, form sexual epitokes; eyes become somewhat en- 

 larged, swimming setae form between the neuropodia and the 

 dorsal cirri, beginning on about setiger 19 (9-21), continuing to near 

 posterior end; body of female massed with large white eggs (violet 

 eggs, according to Fauvel) ; body of male filled with white sperm 

 masses; in middle and posterior part of body (beginning on about 

 setiger 12) with a pair of grayish crescent-shaped glands showing 

 through ventraUy on each segment. 



