Micronephthys sp.1

Diagnosis. Small bodied specimens, 4 - 8 mm long for <30 chaetigers. Branchiae (or interramal cirri) absent. Prostomium with straight to slightly convex anterior margin, subpentagonal to round in shape; short, conical antennae inserted on distal margin slightly medial to anterolateral corners; palps single, short, conical, inserted and directed ventrally. Subdermal eyespots not visible. First chaetiger similar in size to following chaetigers, not reduced. Parapodial acicular lobes conical, aciculae with curved tips. Neuropodial superior lobes absent. Parapodial rami with four types of chaetae: barred chaetae present in preacicular position, spinose chaetae present in postacicular position; capillary chaetae present in neuropodia of chaetiger 1; and some finely spinulose (almost smooth) long capillary-like chaetae in postacicular position of notopodia on following chaetigers. Furcate (lyrate) chaetae absent; thick dentate chaetae absent from chaetiger 1. Some specimens with very long spinulose chaetae in mid and posterior chaetigers, so specimens perhaps in swimming phase. Small papilla-like dorsal cirrus present on inner posteroventral face of all notopodia. Dissected pharynx with pair of conical jaws, 20 bifid terminal papillae (none enlarged more than others), plus 20 - 22 longitudinal rows of subterminal papillae with more than eight long papillae per row, diminishing in size proximally, single elongate middorsal and midventral papillae absent.