Cirriformia petersenae, Jimi & Fujiwara & Kajihara, 2024

Cirriformia petersenae sp. nov.

[New Japanese name: Higata-mizuhiki] ( Figs 13–15 View Fig )

Material examined. Hinode-huto: one of unknown sex, body length 45 mm, body width 2 mm, 229 chaetigers, 23 September 2014, coll. N. Jimi and T. Yamakita. Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-939), COI INSD accession no . PP891565.

Hinoshima: one of unknown sex, body length 51 mm, body width 2 mm, 253 chaetigers, 21 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-940), COI INSD accession no . PP891566.

Hukaumi: one of unknown sex, body length 31 mm, body width 1 mm, 215 chaetigers, 21 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-941), COI INSD accession no . PP891569.

Hukue: one of unknown sex, body length 68 mm, body width 2 mm, 215 chaetigers, 2 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-942), COI INSD accession no . PP891570.

Issiki: one of unknown sex, body length 62 mm, body width 2 mm, 225 chaetigers, 3 June 2014, coll. N. Jimi. Holotype (NSMT-Pol H-943), COI INSD accession no. PP891574.

Kiire: one of unknown sex, body length 47 mm, body width 1 mm, 186 chaetigers, 23 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-944), COI INSD accession no . PP891578.

Kousien-hama: one of unknown sex, body length 52 mm, body width 2 mm, 222 chaetigers, 1 July 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-945), COI INSD accession no . PP891584.

Kumoi-gawa: one of unknown sex, body length 40 mm, body width 1 mm, 247 chaetigers, 2 July 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-946), COI INSD accession no . PP891585.

Wajiro: one of unknown sex, body length 24 mm, body width 1 mm, 215 chaetigers, 26 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-947), COI INSD accession no . PP891606.

Yabe-gawa: one of unknown sex, body length 64 mm, body width 3 mm, 281 chaetigers, 20 June 2014, coll . N . Jimi . Paratype (NSMT-Pol P-948), COI INSD accession no . PP891607.

Description. Body length 24–68mm and width 1–3 mm, 186–281 chaetigers, and color in life orange. Color in alcohol pale yellow ( Fig. 13A View Fig ). Several specimens with black pigmentation in anterior ventral zone. Body elongated, dorsally inflated and grooved throughout, ventral surface not grooved. Eyes absent. Prostomium broad triangular ( Fig. 14). Paired nuchal organs located on prostomium. Peristomium with one annulation and some wrinkles, deeply grooved in junction between peristomium and chaetiger 1. Branchiae start from peristomium, one pair per segment. Branchiae arising from notopodial ridge, not shifting to mid-dorsal section. Notopodia and neuropodia separated, forming shoulders present at median position along whole body. Two groups of dorsal tentacles arising from chaetigers 5–6 (<45 mm length) or 6–7 (> 45 mm length), each group with 8–24 tentacles. Dorsal tentacles organized in two groups each. Notopodia and neuropodia with capillary chaetae and spines. Notochaeta: 5–12 capillary chaetae per fascicle along entire body, 2–4 spines ( Fig. 15A View Fig ) present from chaetigers 52–114 and following chaetigers, spines short, slightly curved, blunt. Neurochaeta: 2–11 capillary chaetae per fascicle along entire body, 2–6 spines ( Fig. 15B View Fig ) present from chaetigers 23–48 and following chaetigers, spines short, slightly curved, blunt. Pygidium simple, with terminal anus.

Methyl Green Staining Pattern. The margin of prostomium and edge of dorsal area of chaetiger 2–4 were notably stained. Segment after tentacles were stained forming complete rings around segments, inter-segmental grooves not staining ( Fig. 13B, C View Fig ).

Etymology. This species is named after Dr. Mary E. Petersen in recognition of her great taxonomic works about cirratulid polychaetes.

Distribution and habitat. Known from tidal flats and shallow area (~ 2m) around Japan.

Remarks. See remarks of C. satoi .