158 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
variable longitudinal fanned brown streaks against yellow/cream background; anterior and median 
elytra with less pigmentation medially, producing lightened dorsal region; posterior segments with 
heavier pigment coverage. Elytra vary in shape along body; anterior (Fig. 2c) and posterior elytra 
smaller; first elytron triangularly oval, median elytra (Fig. 2b) larger, boomerang-shaped with 
broad anterior notch. Last pair elytra small, triangular, with median notch leaving dorsal anus 
uncovered. Posterior elytral surfaces with encrusting debris and epibionts. 
Anterior and lateral margins of elytra narrow, transparent. Anterior and medial elytral surface 
a mosaic of regularly arranged hexagonal areas; numerous longitudinal rows oval-shaped pigment¬ 
ed areolae fill each hexagon (Fig. 2f 4); hexagonal areas in anterior and medial elyti*al surfaces 
arranged in honeycomb pattern; each hexagon slightly raised with respect to adjacent hexagon to 
posterior; posterior hexagonal areas more visibly raised than anterior areas. 
Hexagonal areas transition to smaller, irregularly amanged polygons near posterio-lateral ely¬ 
tral margins where smaller polygons surround two rows inflated, round-tipped, cylindrical macro¬ 
tubercles (Figs. 2b, d, f.3) near posterior margin; medial region of anterior diagonal row with point¬ 
ed and/or smaller tubercles in variable stages of development (Fig. 2f.3); large rounded tubercles 
form nearly complete line in posterior row adjacent to lateral margin; macrotubercles in medial and 
lateral regions inflated, those in proximal region lower in profile; some flattened irregularly 
arranged microtubercles near posterior-lateral corners; one or two tubercles near lateral margin of 
most median elytra with little pigmentation. 
Macrotubercles are modified distended hexagonal areas lacking spination; secondary areolae 
similar to flattened hexagonal areas cover macrotubercle surface. Some macrotubercles and poste¬ 
rior hexagonal areas with irregularly arranged hair-like papillae, possibly epibionts rather than 
papillae. Cylindrical macrotubercles appear hollow; small elongate hole subdistally at tip (Fig. 
2f.3) near proximal posterior tip; subdistal holes packed with white debris, possibly adhered to 
solidified mucus. 
Spinous lateral papillae subdistal to elytral margin; papillae with cylindrical columns, short 
radiating spines; four or more longer papillae subdistally (Figs. 2d, f.2). Segment 2 elytra with 
spinous papillae laterally and one or more at anterior margin. 
Prostomium iridescent, bilobed, wider than long, lacking cephalic peaks (Figs. Ic-d). Pros- 
tomium, lateral antennae lightly tinted grey. Eyes two pairs; anterior pair larger oval, raised, placed 
laterally at widest part on posterior half of prostomium; posterior pair slightly smaller ovals close 
behind first pair at postedolateral comer of prostomium. 
Palps long, slender, iridescent at base, dark grey to black with longitudinal rows short papil¬ 
lae, gently tapering to fine pigment-free tips (Figs. Id-e). Palps more than twice as long as tentac¬ 
ular cirri. Occipital antenna a short cirriform papilla at midline near rear edge of prostomium (Fig. 
Id), obscured from view by nuchal fold. Lateral antennae inserted terminally on long, slender lat¬ 
eral extensions of prostomium; styles dark grey, long, slender, papillated, with slight subtemiinal 
swelling, filiform pigment-free tip. 
Tentacular segment not visible dorsally; tentaculophores ventrolateral to prostomium with 
short, unpigmented acicular lobe, styles similar to lateral antennae, slender, dark, finely papillated, 
gently tapering, with slight subtemiinal swelling and filifomi unpigmented tip. Facial tubercle tint¬ 
ed grey, clearly visible low, broad ridge between cirrophores of lateral antennae. 
Rounded nuchal fold of second segment covering posterior prostomium. Large, elongate 
elytrophores with excavate lateral margins; ventral buccal cirri long, unpigmented (Fig. 1 e), arise 
from bulbous bases; buccal cirri similar length to tentacular cirri, longer and more proximally 
inserted than subsequent ventral cirri. 
Segments 4 and 5 with paired dorsal nodules (Fig. Id), most prominent on segment 4. Dorsal 
