166 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
Results 
Sternaspis piotrowskiae Salazar-Vallejo, sp. nov. 
Figure 1 
Type material.— Philippine Islands, Hears! Philippine Biodiversity Expedition 2011. Holo- 
TYPE (CAS 186700), Luzon Island, Balayan Bay, M/V DA-BFAR, Sta. HEPD-003 (13.82^N, 
nO.TS^E), 272-291 m, mud, 29 May 2011, Mooi et al., coll. Paratypes: One paratype (CAS 
186736), Verde Island Passage, S off Golo Island, M/V DA-BFAR, Sta. HEPD-019 (H.dO'^N, 
120.38®E), 541-636 m, sandy mud with pebbles, 1 Jun. 2011, Mooi et al., coll. (27 mm long, 6 mm 
wide; left shield plate 4.9 mm long, 5.3 mm wide). One paratype (CAS 186927), Lubang Islands, 
off Ambil Island, MN DA-BFAR, Sta. HEPD-035 (13.82"N, 120.46"E), 397-139 m, mud, 4 June 
2011, Mooi et al., coll, (body 24 mm long, 10 m wide; left shield plate 8 mm long, 9 mm wide). 
One paratype (CAS 186945), Luzon Island, Balayan Bay, M/V DA-BFAR, Sta. HEPD-006 
(13.70‘’N, 120.68“E), 454—157 m, mud with coralline sand, 29 May 2011, Mooi et al., coll, (body 
extremely dehydrated; introvert damaged, detached fi'om; body 21 mm long, 8 mm wide; left 
shield plate 6.0 mm long, 6.5 mm wide). Tlii*ee paratypes (CAS 187017), Luzon Island, Balayan 
Bay, MJy DA-BFAR, Sta. HEPD-010 (13.8 UN, 120.84‘^E), 318-333 m, mud, 30 May. 2011, Mooi 
et al., coll, (body 21-30 mm long, 7-9 mm wide; left shield plate 6.5-8.0 mm long, 8.5-9.0 mm 
wide). 
Description.— Holotype (CAS 186700) complete, body wall whitish, integument pale 
brown (Fig. lA), variably eroded exposing paler body wall areas. Introvert exposed, parapodial 
ridges variable damaged, some chaetae broken; introvert body wall broken on the right side; ven- 
tro-caudal shield dark reddish, fading towards its margins, anterior keels paler. Body papillae and 
integument mostly eroded. Body 25 mm long, 9 mm wide; left shield plate 6.9 mm long, 7.0 mm 
wide; about 30 segments. 
Prostomium whitish, globose, projected from body wall, without eyespots (Fig. IB). Peris- 
tomium rounded, papillae eroded. Mouth circular, markedly wider than prostomium, papillae erod¬ 
ed, some remain in mouth opening. 
First three chaetigers with 20-22 thick, golden, almost straight hooks, with subdistal darker 
areas. Genital papillae pale, tapered, barely widened medially, protmde ventrally from interseg- 
mental groove between segments 7 and 8. Pre-shield region with 7 segments, capillary chaetae 
mostly broken, segment 9 with 4-5 thin capillary chaetae. 
Ventro-caudal shield with radiating ribs and concentric lines, anterior keels completely 
exposed, reaching anterior margins, separated; suture indistinct (Figs. lA, C). Anterior margins 
rounded; anterior depression deep but obscured by exposure of anterior keels. Lateral margins 
expanded medially, slightly reduced posteriorly. Fan tmncate, slightly expanded reaching posteri¬ 
or comers, margin barely crenulated; median notch indistinct. 
Marginal chaetal fascicles include 10 lateral ones, chaetae in a tight fascicle (apparently oval- 
ly arranged before dehydration), and 7 posterior fascicles, chaetae in a slightly curved arrangement. 
Peg chaetae broken, one fascicle with a few delicate long chaetae folded behind shield. 
Branchiae and interbranchial filaments abundant, curled; branchial plates parallel, anteriorly 
widened, rounded. 
Type locality. — Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines, 272-291 m. 
Etymology. — The species name is after Cliristina Piotrowski, Collections Manager of Inver¬ 
tebrate Zoology, California Academy of Sciences, in recognition of her efforts during sampling, 
sorting and cataloguing polychaete materials of the Hears! Expedition. The epithet is a noun in the 
genitive case. 
