Aglaophamus lobatus

Description. Specimens range in size from 15 – 20 mm in length and 2 mm in width, with 51 – 67 chaetigers. Prostomium rectangular, 2 times longer than wide; antennae at anterolateral margins and palps ventral to antennae, all conically tapering with slightly swollen tips; nuchal pits round, at posterolateral prostomial margins (Figs 1 A, 2 A – B). Pair of subdermal eyes embedded dorsally midchaetiger 2, not visible through body wall. No pigment present on body or prostomium. Pharynx with 10 pairs of terminal bifid papillae, separated dorsally by gap, no single terminal papilla present, and 14 longitudinal rows of subterminal papillae, 4 – 8 per row; elongate middorsal subdistal pharyngeal papilla present, approximately 3 – 4 times length of other distalmost subterminal papillae. Verrucae present proximally on pharynx. First parapodia directed forward, slightly smaller than subsequent parapodia and with pyriform dorsal and ventral cirri (Fig. 2 A – B, F). Notopodia from chaetiger 2 onwards with well developed dorsal cirri, thin and scoop-shaped (foliose) and distally tapering, as long as notopodial postacicular lamellae (Figs 1 D, 2 D). Posteriorly, dorsal cirri becoming elongate and longer than postacicular lamellae (Fig. 2 E). Ventral cirri pyriform (Figs 1 B – D, 2 C). Parapodial postacicular lamellae anteriorly large, auricular; preacicular lamellae smaller, leaf-shaped (Figs 1 A, 1 D, 2 C). Interramal space widely V-shaped. Notopodial interramal branchiae starting on chaetiger 3, involute, ciliated, and filling approximately 1 / 2 of interramal space anteriorly (Figs 1 C, 2 C), up to 1 / 3 of interramal space in posterior segments (Figs 1 D – F, 2 D – E), continue to within last few posterior chaetigers. Neuropodial interramal branchiae absent. Parapodial acicular lobes acutely pointed (Fig. 2 H); aciculae golden-coloured, curved distally. Chaetae of 3 types: barred chaetae (Fig. 2 F) present in preacicular position in noto- and neuropodia; spinose chaetae present in postacicular position in both noto- and neuropodia (Fig. 2 F – G); and lyrate chaetae with equal rami in postacicular position (Fig. 2 G), present by chaetiger 4. Pygidial cirri are absent or missing.

Remarks. These specimens from Lizard Island most closely resemble A. lobatus Imajima & Takeda, 1985 from Japan, which also possesses involute notopodial interramal branchiae from chaetiger 3, large, “ flattened ” dorsal cirri, large foliose postacicular lamellae, 14 longitudinal rows of pharyngeal papillae, and with verrucae proximally on the pharynx, but differ slightly from the original description of A. lobatus by the presence of subdermal eyes (eyes are “ absent ” in A. lobatus), 10 pairs of terminal bifid pharyngeal papillae (A. lobatus has “ 22 rows (sic) of terminal papillae ”), more pharyngeal papillae in the subterminal rows (4 – 5 in A. lobatus), and a much more elongate single middorsal subterminal pharyngeal papilla (“ short ” in A. lobatus, and which we suspect may belong to one of the subterminal rows). The original description is of material collected in northern Japanese waters from 10 – 270 m with no habitat data provided. In contrast, the material from Lizard Island was collected in tropical waters from shallow subtidal depths, which appears to be a very different habitat. To date, also, there are no other records of A. lobatus from any location between northern Japan and northern Australia, giving the species a widely disjunct distribution. The specimens described by Imajima & Takeda (1985) were slightly smaller (up to 17 mm in length) and were incomplete (with up to 42 segments), so the morphological differences shown in the Lizard Island specimens may possibly be due to the size difference. For these reasons we have provided a comprehensive description and illustrations of the specimens from Lizard Island. At this stage we are tentatively referring them to A. lobatus until type material can be examined to confirm the identification. One of the specimens from Lizard Island was collected in 1978, which is prior to the original 1985 description of this species from Japan by Imajima & Takeda. Habitat. In depths of 10 – 270 m from Japanese waters; from Lizard Island, in sandy mud, sand and seagrass, in 14 – 24 m depth.

Distribution. Japan, Australia (Queensland: Lizard Island).

Material examined. Queensland, Lizard Island: AM W. 47230 (1), AM W. 46973 (5, 1 on SEM), MI QLD 2440; AM W. 46975 (2), MI QLD 2444; AM W. 46976 (2, 1 photographed), MI QLD 2441; AM W. 47502 (1), Watsons Bay, 400 m off Chinamans Ridge, 14 ° 40 ' S, 145 ° 27 ' E, sand with filamentous algae, 12 m, 13 Oct 1978.