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Records of the Australian Museum (2009) Vol. 61 
of thorax 2.0 mm; length of operculum and peduncle 4.6 
mm; length of operculum 2.6 mm and length of abdomen 
19.2 mm. 
In AM W3635, tubes mostly white, few with light 
bluish-grey along the flanks; maximum width of one of 
the largest tubes 7.0 mm, including the lateral flanges, 4.2 
mm without the flanges. Operculum occurs on left side; no 
rudimentary operculum on right. Many opercula possess a 
single concave disc. Radiolar arrangement circular, with 21 
left side; 22 on right. Number of abdominal segments: about 
88. Chaetae similar to those described above; long-shafted 
flattened trumpet-shaped neurochaetae present throughout 
the abdomen, starting from about 2 or 3 segments from 
anterior end. 
Although specimens having two or more eccentric discs 
are included under the present new species, those in AM 
W3635 mostly possess opercula consisting of a single 
concave opercular plate. They appear to be somewhat similar 
to that of Spirobranchus sp. 2 described earlier from Eden. 
Unfortunately, the single specimen of Spirobranchus sp. 3 
lacks its tube. Further studies are necessary to determine 
whether it is similar to that of S. zibrowii. 
Both H. Zibrowius and Harry ten Hove (pers. comm.) 
suggested that the present author describe the present species, 
since it was unlikely that they would deal with it owing to 
their ongoing research commitments. 
Etymology. It is named after Dr H. Zibrowius, formerly of 
Station marine d’Endoume, Marseille, who, in his study of 
the above specimens in Natural History Museum, and in an 
unpublished manuscript, considered it a new species; also in 
appreciation of his numerous contributions to our knowledge 
on serpulimorph polychaetes. 
Acknowledgments. It’s indeed a great pleasure to express 
sincere gratitude to the following of the Natural History Museum, 
London. Prof. Phil Rainbow, Keeper of Zoology, for his overall 
personal interest and support, and Dr Gordon Paterson, Associate 
Keeper of Zoology and Head of the Polychaete Research 
Group for encouragement and facilities which made this study 
possible. To Gordon Paterson, again, and Alexander Muir for 
the many useful discussions we had while sharing the Polychaete 
Research Laboratory in the old Spirit Building and in the new 
Darwin Centre; and to Alex Muir again for help with regard to 
laboratory equipment and material, literature on serpulimorphs, 
and translations of literature. Thanks to Tim Conyers, P.D. James 
Chimonides of the Facilities and Resources Division and Lorraine 
Portch, Reprographics Officer, Library & Information Services, 
for assistance in digital capture and processing text-figures; 
and to Jim Chimonides, again, for preparation of text-figurel. 
Dr Paul Cornelius, former Head of the Coelenterata Division, 
for identification of the Hydractiniid coelenterate found on the 
operculum of Spirobranchus arabicus, Monro, 1937. All concerned 
in the Natural History Museum for access to the polychaete 
collections used in this study and library facilities, and Emma 
Sherlock of the Lower Invertebrates Curation Group for help with 
Registration Numbers of the new species from the NHM collections 
dealt with in this study. 
A very special word of gratitude is expressed to Dr J. David 
George, former Head of the Annelida Section, Natural History 
Museum, and to Prof. E.Wyn Knight-Jones of the University 
College of Swansea, for their support when, in the late 1980’s, the 
present author wished to continue his research on the Polychaeta 
at the Natural History Museum. To David George, again, for 
facilities and support for this study while he was head of the Marine 
Biological Services Division and Annelida Section. 
To Dr Harry A. ten Hove of the Institute for Taxonomic 
Zoology, University of Amsterdam, for making available Richard 
S. Smith’s (1985) unpublished thesis on Photoreceptors of serpulid 
polychaetes. His helpful comments and personal notes relating to 
the identity of Spirobranchus paumotanus described in this paper 
and his notes and drawings of species of Spirobranchus from 
Australia and Indonesia were much appreciated. 
To the following of the Australian Museum, Sydney: Dr Pat 
Hutchings for the opportunity to study this very interesting serpulid 
collection from the Kimberleys of Australia, which turned out to 
be more challenging than anticipated, and important in so many 
respects, as well as for her many useful comments and suggestions 
on more than one draft manuscript of this paper. To Dr Penny 
Berents for loaning the Kimberleys and other AM material used 
in this study; to Pat and Penny, again for AM registration numbers 
for the Kimberleys collection of serpulids. The various sampling 
locations frequently yielded adults as well as juveniles of more than 
one species that were sorted out and given provisional numbers 
by the author, and returned to the AM over a decade ago. Many 
thanks to Anna Murray for kindly undertaking the difficult and 
indispensable task of ensuring that the provisional numbers of 
the specimens dealt with in the earlier version of the manuscript 
matched their final AM registration numbers; to the reviewers of 
this paper for their indispensable comments, and, finally, to Dr 
Shane McEvey, Editor of Records of the Australian Museum, for 
his personal encouragement regarding publication of this paper. 
References 
Abildgaard, PC., 1789. Beschreibung 1. Einer groszen Seeblase 
(Holothuria priapus Linn.), 2. Zween Arten des Steinbohrers 
('Terebella Linn.) 3. Einer groszen Sandrohre ( Sabella Linn.). 
Schriften der Berlinischen Gesellschaft Naturforschender 
Freunde, Berlin 9: 133-146. 
Augener, H., 1914. Polychaeta. II. Sedentaria. Die Fauna Sudwest- 
Australiens. 5 (1): 1-170. 
Augener, H., 1918a. Polychaeta. In: Michaelsen & Hartmeyer, Die 
Fauna Sudwest Australiens 4(5): 65-304. 
