Gesaia elegans

Opercular lobes completely divided into two free lobes, operculum longer than wide. Operculum with distal end slope absent (opercular disc perpendicular to longitudinal axis); opercular papillae digitiform, twice longer than wide. Form of tentacular filaments simple (unbranched). Oral plates absent. Palps shorter or similar in length to operculum. Medial organ (cirrus) at dorsal junction of lobes present. Arrangement of outer paleae in semicircles. Angle of blades and axis of shafts straight; blade of outer paleae cylindrical. Outer paleae denticles on lateral margins absent. Distal margins of outer paleae smooth. Outer paleae medial plume absent. Middle paleae absent. Inner paleae giving the appearance of 1 row. Arrangement of inner paleae in short line on juncture of lobes, angle of blades and axis of shafts straight; blade of inner paleae cylindrical, like spines. Medial organ present. Nuchal spines or hooks present; number of nuchal spines or hooks 1 pairs; tip shape of spines bent, hooklike. Limbation on hooks absent. Neuropodia on segment 1 with 2 pair(s) of cirri. Neurochaetae on segment 1 absent. Number of lateral lobes on segment 2: 2 pair(s). Number of parathoracic segments 2. Thoracic branchiae present. Parathoracic neurochaetae only capillary. Dorsal papillae absent.

Description generated from: Hutchings, P.A., Capa, M., & Peart, R. 2012. Revision of the Australian Sabellariidae (Polycheata) and description of eight new species. Zootaxa, 3306: 1-60.

Additional references:
Kirtley, D.W. 1994. A review and taxonomic revision of the family Sabellariidae Johnston, 1865 (Annelida; Polychaeta). Sabecon Press Science Series 1: 1-223.

Atlantic Ocean; distribution within Australia: Does not occur in Australia.

Insufficient data.