132 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 227 



Genus Parapionosyllis Fauvel, 1923 



Type (designated by Hartman, 1959a, p. 215): Parapionosyllis 

 gestans (Pierantoni, 1903). Contains only one New England species. 



Parapionosyllis longicirrata (Webster and Benedict, 1884) 



Figure 35,e,/ 



Sphaerosyllis longicirrata Webster and Benedict, 1884, p. 715, pi. 8, figs. 95-100. — 



Miner, 1950, p. 293, pi. 96. 

 1 Parapionosyllis minuta Fauvel, 1923, p. 292, fig. 111/. 



Description. — Length up to 5 mm., width up to 0.3 mm., segments 

 up to 40. Body tiny, threadlike, of fairly uniform width, without 

 surface papillae. Prostomium suboval, wider than long, with 2 pairs 

 larger eyes on posterior half and a pair of minute ocular spots near 

 the lateral antennae. Median antenna attached posteriorly on 

 prostomium and extending a little beyond the palps. Lateral 

 antennae attached anteriorly, slightly shorter than the median antenna. 

 Palps large, basal third fused, distal part may be extended anteriorly 

 or partially flopped ventrally. Single pair tentacular cirri similar to 

 lateral antennae. Parapodia stout, cylindrical, truncate distaily, 

 with knobbed acicula. Neurosetae of 2 kinds: Single upper simple 

 seta, beveled at tip; compound setae with shorter to longer appen- 

 dages, with tips entire, slightly hooked. Dorsal cirri subulate, wider 

 basally, tapering to more slender distal tips, extending slightly 

 beyond the setae, present on all setigers including setiger 2. Ventral 

 cirri digitiform, as long as setal lobe. Anal cirri similar to antennae. 



Proboscis w4th a single anterior tooth. Body colorless. Male 

 epitokes with capillary setae beginning on setiger 11, continuing up 

 to last few segments. Females with a single large egg per segment 

 in setigers 11-28; eggs and embryos attached ventrally to body 

 of female, 1 per segment; they develop to an advanced stage up to 

 5 setigers and the beginning of a sixth, similar to adult, including 

 the shape of the head (the 6 eyes have the same arrangement but 

 they are subequal in size), setae, etc. Dorsal cirri are lacking on 

 setiger 2 (differs thus from the adult). The young are attached by 

 the posterior end between the paired anal cirri. 



Biology. — Found at low water, in muddy sand, on shells, and 

 among tubes of small maldanids. Dredged on bottoms of nmd. 

 Females with large developing eggs were found in October (October 

 20, 1956, Buzzards Bay, N. Riser). 



Material examined. — Massachusetts (Orleans, Provincetown on 

 Cape Cod; Woods Hole region. Lackey's Bay, Hadley Harbor, West 

 Falmouth Harbor, Buzzards Bay, low water to 10 fathoms). 



Distribution. — Massachusetts. Gulf of Naples?. Low water to 

 10 fathoms. 



