Aonidella insolita

Prostomium blunt, anteriorly truncate or rounded (broadly rounded), anterior margin with entire anterior margin. Lateral horns absent. Caruncle present. Occipital antenna absent. Nuchal organ none observed. Eyes present; 4 eyes (small, generally pale, quite deepset). Palps simple, lacking basal sheath (palps with double undulating ridge, about 12 segments long). Dorsal ridge connecting bases of branchiae on chaetiger 1 absent. Prominent dorsal collar on setiger 2 absent. Dorsal branchiae present, first present on chaetiger 2. Dorsal branchiae absent from many median and posterior chaetigers, last present on chaetiger 14–17 (as early as 7–8 in small specimens, around 14–17 in larger specimens). Dorsal branchiae continuous. Dorsal branchiae free and separate from notopodial lamellae throughout, all simple. First branchiae without process at base on anterior face. Dorsal branchiae longest on median chaetigers, decreasing in length anteriorly and posteriorly (on chaetiger 2 about half the height of the free portion of the notopodial lobe, from 3 similar height or slightly longer than notopodial lobe, last couple slightly shorter; all a similar width to notopodial lobes). Accessory branchiae arising from posterior part of notopodium absent. Ventral branchiae absent. Chaetiger 3 without filament at base of branchiae. Dorsal crests absent. Ventral crests absent. Chaetiger 1 notopodium present. Chaetiger 1 notochaetae present. Anterior setigers with 2 rows of chaetae. Neuropodial lobe of chaetiger 2 rounded, approximately symmetrical. Neuropodial lobes of posterior chaetigers a single lobe. Interparapodial pouches present. Interparapodial pouches on chaetigers 6–18. Both notopodial and neuropodial postchaetal lobes are relatively small, short and tapering. Anteriorly, the notopodial lobes are thin and tapering, neuropodial lobes are similar but slightly more triangular. Posteriorly, both notopodial and neuropodial lobes are somewhat triangular. Chaetigers 2–4 similar, not strongly differentiated. Chaetiger 5 unmodified, similar to subsequent chaetigers. Posterior modified notochaetae absent. Notopodial hooded hooks present, first on chaetiger(s) 20–40 (starting with 1 per fascicle, up to 4 per fascicle). Neurochaetae of chaetiger 1 simple capillaries similar to those of subsequent chaetigers. Neuropodial hooded hooks present, first present on chaetiger 16–22 (initially 1 per fascicle, up to 5 per fascicle). Neuropodial hooded hooks with accessory tooth or teeth above the main fang, 2 accessory teeth (tridentate) (there is a very slim chance that there is a 4th tooth). Shaft of neuropodial hooded hooks of constant thickness, lacking a constriction. Neuropodial sabre chaetae absent. Neuropodial spines absent. Embedded bunches of notopodial needle chaetae absent. Pygidium with 4 large leaf shaped cirri.

Description generated from: Wilson, RS & McDiarmid, H 2013. Spionidae (Polychaeta)- A DELTA database of genera, and Australian species. Version 2; originally published as In RS Wilson, PA Hutchings & CJ Glasby (eds) Polychaetes: An Interactive Identification Guide. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Additional references:
Greaves, Meißner & Wilson. 2011. New Laonice species (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from western and northern Australia. Zootaxa 2903: 1-20.
Meißner, K, Bick, A, Guggolz, T & Götting, M. 2014. Spionidae (Polychaeta: Canalipalpata: Spionida) from seamounts in the NE Atlantic. Zootaxa 3786 (3): 201-245.

Global distribution Australia; distribution within Australia: South-western Australia, North-western Australia.

Marine, shelf, slope.