2Q8 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 227 



Genus Ephesiella Chamberlin, 1919; char, emend. 



Type (original designation) : Sphaerodorum peripatus Claparede, 

 1863; =Ephesiella abyssorum (Hansen, 1882). Not S. peripatus 

 (Johnston, 1845). 



The junior synonym of Sphaerodorum peripatus Claparede, 1863, 

 must be used as it is preoccupied by Sphaerodorum peripatus (Johns- 

 ton, 1845). Setae compound (as in type). Segmental spherical 

 glandular capsules 2 (as in type) or more per row. Body elongated, 

 cylindrical (as in type) to short, oval. 



Contains only one New England species. 



Ephesiella niinuta (Webster and Benedict, 1887) 



Figure 52,d-f 



Ephesia minuta Webster and Benedict, 1887, p. 728, pi. 4, figs. 64-66. 

 Sphaerodorum minutum Southern, 1914, p. 90, fig. 21. — Fauvel, 1923, p. 380, fig. 



149,a-c.— Berkeley and Berkeley, 1948, p. 27, fig. 34.— Uschakov, 1955, p. 



222, fig. 70. 

 Ephesiella minuta Chamberlin, 1920, p. 13. 



Description.' — Length up to 6 mm., width up to 1 mm., segments 

 up to 30. Body may be thick set, short, oval when contracted or more 

 elongated, widest in middle, tapering anteriorly and posteriorly. 

 Ventral surface flat and narrow, dorsal surface strongly arched. 

 Eyes two, under integument. Integument covered with minute 

 papillae dorsally and ventrally. Spherical glandular capsules en- 

 circle the dorsum, in transverse rows in line with the parapodia, 10-14 

 per row (fig. 52,d,e). Parapodia elongated, with elongated papillae 

 including 2 to 3 near distal tip. Setae few in number (4-9), compound, 

 with shaft finely denticled near tip, with terminal blade slightly 

 curved (fig. 52/). Aciculum colorless. Color: yellowish white, eyes 

 black, eggs purpHsh red. Females may be filled with large oval eggs 

 with thick smooth shells. 



Biology. — Found at low water in holdfasts of Laminaria. Dredged 

 on bottom of sand, mud, gravel, rocks, and shells. Mature specimens 

 were taken in June, July, August in Ireland ; some were taken in tow 

 net at night (Southern). 



Material examined.' — Type of Ephesia minuta from Eastport, 

 Maine. Also Gulf of St. Lawrence (Bay of Chaleurs, 50-61 fathoms), 

 off Maine {Albatross III, 41°21' N., 68°38' W., meter net, 42 fathoms, 

 December 15, 1955, R. L. Wigley). 



Distribution. — Scattered records in the Arctic (Spitsbergen, 

 Canadian Arctic) ; also Ireland, Gulf of St. Lawrence to Maine. In 

 low water to 61 fathoms; mature specimens in surface waters. 



