Neopolynoe acanellae explained

Neopolynoe acanellae is a scale worm known from the North Atlantic Ocean at depths about 400 to 2000 m.^{[1] [2]}

Description

Neopolynoe acanellae has up to 72 segments with 15 pairs of elytra that bear marginal fringe of papillae but no color patterning. Lateral antennae are positioned ventrally on the prostomium, directly beneath the median antenna ceratophore and almost obscured in dorsal view. The notochaetae are about as thick as neurochaetae and only possess simple tips.^{[1] [3]}

Biology

Neopolynoe acanellae has a commensal relationship with host corals of the genus Anthomastus and Acanella, as well as with sponges.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Verrill, A.E. 1882. Notice of recent additions to the marine Invertebrata of the northeastern coast of America, with descriptions of new genera and species and critical remarks on others. Part III.Catalogue of Mollusca recently added to the fauna of southern New England. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 22: 405-409
2. Hamel J-F, Montgomery EM, Barnich R, Mercier A (2015) Range extension of the deep-sea polychaete worm Neopolynoe acanellae in Canada. Marine Biodiversity Records 8: e9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267214001444.
3. Bock G, Fiege D, Barnich R (2010) Revision of Hermadion Kinberg, 1856, with a redescription of Hermadion magalhaensi Kinberg, 1856, Adyte hyalina (G.O. Sars, 1873) n. comb. and Neopolynoe acanellae (Verrill, 1881) n. comb. (Polychaeta: Polynoidae). Zootaxa 2554: 45–61. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2554.1.4.
4. Taboada S, Silva AS, Neal L, Cristobo J, Ríos P, Alvarez-Campos P, Hestetun JT, Koutsouveli V, Sherlock E, Riesgo A (2019) Insights into the symbiotic relationship between scale worms and carnivorous sponges (Cladorhizidae, Chondrocladia). Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers: 103191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2019.103191