Records of the Australian Museum (2009) Vol. 61 
with regard to Filograna they also describe the occurrence 
of “Two spoon-shaped opercula on the first non-modified 
pinnulate branchial radioles, one on each branchial radiole.” 
Nevertheless, following authors who consider operculate and 
non-operculate forms as being only different species within 
the same genus, they include Salmacina under the genus 
Filograna. Nogueira & ten Hove (2000:151) who discuss the 
“Filograna/Salmacina complex” also characterize Salmacina 
as being non-operculate. 
Kimberleya n.gen. 
Type species. Kimberleya hutchingsae n.sp. 
Diagnosis. Operculum absent. Radioles arise from a 
common base on each side, arranged semi-circularly; inter- 
radiolar membranes absent. Thoracic membranes present; 
apron present. Thorax consists of 10 chaetigers. Special 
collar chaetae: simple blades (devoid of a fin-shaped basal 
process). Sickle-shaped chaetae occur from 3rd to 10th 
thoracic chaetigers; uncinal tori occur from 3rd to 10th 
chaetigers; thoracic and anterior abdominal uncini rasp¬ 
shaped, their most anterior uncinal process simple and 
elongated; anterior abdominal chaetae geniculate. 
Remarks. Kimberleya is unusual in that thoracic uncinal 
tori occur from the second pair of chaetigers onwards, unlike 
in other Filograninae and serpulid genera in which they 
occur from the third pair of thoracic chaetigers onwards. 
Furthermore, sickle-shaped chaetae occur from the 3rd to 
10th thoracic segments. 
Although sickle-shaped chaetae also occur from the 2nd 
or 3rd thoracic segment onwards in the genus Pseudovermilia 
Bush, 1907, there are other characters by which the two 
genera can be distinguished. Kimberleya lacks an operculum, 
possesses 10 thoracic chaetigers, an apron, and rasp-shaped 
uncini, whereas Pseudovermilia possesses an operculum, 
(incidentally, occurring in the position of the second 
branchial radiole unlike in other Filograninae where, when 
present, it is in the position of the first), 7 thoracic chaetigers, 
saw-shaped thoracic uncini, and lacks an apron. 
Kimberleya is also similar to the genus Protula Risso, 
1826, which has recently also been referred to as a Protula/ 
Apomatus- complex, with regard to the following characters: 
absence, sometimes, of an operculum, possession of simple 
collar chaetae, sickle-shaped chaetae, rasp-shaped uncini 
with an elongated anterior process, an apron, and geniculate 
anterior abdominal chaetae. However, Kimberleya possesses 
10 thoracic chaetigers, unlike Protula which possesses 7. 
As in Kimberleya , an operculum is absent in the following 
genera: Subprotula Bush, 1910, Floriprotis Uchida, 1978, 
Paraprotis Uchida, 1978, and Microprotula Uchida, 1978. 
However, unlike Kimberleya, they all possess 7 thoracic 
chaetigers. 
Kimberleya hutchingsae n.sp. 
Fig. 2A-G 
Type material. Kimberleys, Western Australia. Holotype, AM W21396, 
E side of Fenelon Isl. 14°0'S 125°43'E, 18 Jul. 1988, St 64. Paratypes, 
AM W21447, juveniles, reef NW of Buffon Isl. 14°55'S 124°E, 20 m, 23 
Jul. 1988, St 85; all collected by P.A. Hutchings. 
Description 
Measurements. Holotype: Diameter of anterior part of tube 
1.0 mm; lengths of worm 9.8 mm; branchial radioles 1.2 mm, 
thorax 1.2 mm, and abdomen 7.4 mm; width of thorax 0.5 
mm. Paratypes: both juveniles with their branchial crowns 
missing; maximum external tube diameter 0.6 mm; thoracic 
width 0.25-0.3 mm; length of abdomen 3.0-3.5 mm. 
Tube. White, almost circular in cross-section, with free 
anterior end, coiled upon itself and bonded together where 
they lay upon each other (Fig. 2A). Surface bears fine 
transverse markings, with granular overlay, especially along 
ridges and laterally; anteriorly, bears a pair of faint, broad, 
smooth, longitudinal ridges; a shallow lateral longitudinal 
groove recognizable along each side. Tubes of paratypes 
very small, white, coiled (Fig. 2G), with translucent granular 
overlay. 
Worm. Holotype: operculum and rudimentary operculum 
absent (Fig. 2B). Radioles number 6 on each side, their 
pinnule-free tips short and similar in diameter to those 
of pinnules. A pair of prostomial eyespots present, each 
consisting of several reddish ocelli. Thorax possesses 
10 chaetigers. Abdomen (Fig. 2B) possesses about 115 
segments; capillaries occur from about segment 102 to end 
of abdomen; abdominal tori short, lateral. Both paratypes: 
juveniles, radiolar crowns missing; possess more than 7 
thoracic chaetigers, adult number not yet attained; although 
difficult to discern, a very narrow apron present. 
Chaetae. Holotype: first and second thoracic chaetigers 
bear only notochaetal fascicles consisting of simple serrated 
blades (Fig. 2C), but lack neurochaetal uncinal tori. Third to 
10th thoracic chaetigers bear notochaetal fascicles as well as 
neurochaetal uncinal tori; their notochaetal composition as 
follows: 3rd and 4th fascicles, 3 simple blades + 2 transitional 
sickles (Fig. 2D); 5th, 3 simple blades + 1 transitional sickle; 
6th, 3 simple blades + 3 (fully formed) sickles (Fig. 2E); 
7th and 8th, 4 simple blades + 4 (fully formed) sickles; 9th, 
4 simple blades + 3 (fully formed) sickles; 10th, 4 simple 
blades + 2 (fully formed) sickles. Thoracic as well as anterior 
and posterior abdominal uncini: rasp-shaped (Fig. 2F). 
Paratype: similar to holotype in lacking neurochaetal uncinal 
tori in its first and second thoracic chaetigers. 
Remarks. Kimberleya is quite unusual among serpulids 
in that its first two thoracic chaetigers bear notochaetal 
fascicles and lack uncinal tori, whereas only the first thoracic 
chaetiger bears notochaetal fascicles and lacks uncinal tori 
in the other genera. 
Etymology. The type species is dedicated to Dr Patricia 
Hutchings of the Australian Museum, Sydney, who made 
this interesting collection of serpulids from the Kimberleys 
of Australia, besides her many other efforts and contributions 
to our knowledge of the Polychaeta. 
Genus Protula Risso, 1826 
Type species. Protula tubularia Montagu, 1803. See Ben- 
Eliahu & Fiege (1996: 27). 
For synonymy of genera see Fauvel (1927: 381). 
Erratum. On page 98, the author intended that the paragraph beginning: “Remarks. Kimberleya is quite...” 
printed at the end of the K. hutchingsae description, replace a paragraph beginning “Remarks. Kimberleya is 
unusual...” originally printed under the generic diagnosis. [Editor—3 Dec. 2009] 
