| Lepidastheniella comma (Thomson, 1902). Family Polynoidae | ||||
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Lepidastheniella comma [Click photo for picture page] 
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| Habitat: | Intertidal. Subtidal. Rocky shore. Sheltered to open beaches. Epifaunal. Depth range: 0-10 (m). Salinity regime: Harbour-like variation. Microhabitat: Rock crevices, worm tubes. Tube: May inhabit tubes of other worms. | |||
| Occurrence: | Consistently occurring. Density: 50 (m2).
Distribution in NZ: New Zealand mainland and Auckland Island. | |||
| Feeding guild: | Surface omnivore. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Genus Lepidastheniella in Family Polynoidae.
Median antenna lower (ventral view) than lateral. Anteriormost cirri (and antenna) with dark band at constriction and subdistally; later cirri unpigmented. Antennal cirrophores dark. Anterior dorsal cirri base dark-pigmented and transverse dark bands mid-dorsal intersegmentally. Elytra 26-41 for 60-78 chaetigers, present in normal alternating pattern, and only just overlap all along body, becoming smaller in far post. Notochaetae at least 20 capillaries, finely-serrated, neurochaetae golden (not dark), about 10-12 per fascicle, unidentate with usual subdistal comb rows. Elytra mottled dark with blotchy pigment spots, without marginal papillae. Eltyral tubercles small. Very short anal cirri pair. Small blunt (or cirrus-like) facial tubercle. Colour: Elytra mottled dark with blotchy pigment spots. Maximum size: 70 mm total length, 5 mm body width. |
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| Notable aspect: | Elongate with about 40 smooth-edged elytra. | |||
| Comparisons: | Unlikely to be confused with other rock shore polynoids. The sand-dwelling commensal Disconatis accolus has much smaller, almost colourless elytra. | |||
| Taxonomy: | L. comma has 40 elytra according to Barnich & Fiege, 35-45 according to Thomson. Local specimens with 78 chaetigers for 41 elytra in Port WT109, 63 and ca.29 elytra for complete wt014; ca. 60 chaetigers & 28 elytra for complete WT104). May be more than one species here. As Barnich & Fiege claim, Benham's L. monroi is probably same thing. But this species requires further evalution in detail. | |||
| Distribution: | Endemic. New Zealand. | |||
| Biology: | May be commensal. Wide range of habitats may indicate more than one species has been reported under this name. | |||
| Best References: | Biology: No recommendation. Taxonomy: Barnich and Fiege (2003) Revision of the genus Lepidastheniella Monro, 1924 (Polychaeta: Polynoidae: Lepidastheniinae) with notes on the subfamily Lepidastheniinae and the description of a new species.. Journal of Natural History 38:863-876.. | |||
| More information: |
Synonyms, NZ records | Original figures | Original description details | |
| Genus diagnosis | More pictures | Further references (biology, etc) | Family Polynoidae | |
| Internet sources: |
GOOGLE Search | AlltheWeb Search | CISTI | CBIF BiOSC Gateway | GOBASE Molecular | GenBank | Genus only in GenBank | | |||
| Genus only in Ubio Taxonomic Name Server | PubMed | Scirus | Zoological Record | | ||||
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