Hesperalia californiensis sp. nov.
Body rather stout for a syllid, more as in Hesionidae; broadest and deepest anteriorly, continuously narrowing caudal to the pointed posterior end. The color of the dorsum is blackish, with pale transverse lines in the intersegmental furrows and bisecting each somite which under the lens thus appears double. Parapodia and cirri typically pale fulvous and the venter either similar or approaching the dorsum in color. Prostomium very short, sunk in the first body ring and almost completely overlapped by the quadrate flap from the latter, this flap extending over the bases of the tentacles in the type. Palpi stout, presenting two main lobes fused to their apices or nearly so, and on each of these an ectodistal lobe projecting ventrocephalad, these distal lobes wholly free from each other. Tentacles appearing nearly smooth; tapered; the median exceeding the lateral in length. Eyes large; in type orange colored; the two on each side contiguous or nearly so; posterior ones nearer together, each beneath edge of the quadrate peristomial flap, while the anterior ones are in line with base of median tentacle. Tentacular cirri of same form as tentacles but longer. Neurocirri thick, short, distally rounded. Natocirri long, filiform, tapering distad, weakly ringed; showing a tendency to alternate in height on the sides of the body, the first being notably farther distad than the second, the third than the second and fourth, etc. Setae numerous; the appendage short, falcate, with tip simple, but a slender tooth near middle of curved edge. Segments short, crowded, near one hundred in number.
Length of type, 21 mm.; greatest width, 2.2 mm.
Type—M. C. Z. 2, 149.
Taken in August, 1914.
Hesperalia nans sp. nov.
The type of this species is in the epitkous phase. The middle region of the body bears notopodeal fasciæ of long, fine, simple, natatory setae in addition to the compound neuropodials. The appendage of the compound setae differs from that of californiensis in having the accessory tooth farther distad, well beyond the middle of the concave edge, whereas in the other species it is normally rather proximad of the middle. In the present species the prostomium is proportionately larger, less covered by the peristomial flap which does not extend over the base of the median tentacle. The palpi are not fused so far distad, being united only at base; they present below on each a large distal lobe similar to that in the other species. Eyes with prominent lenses; large; those on each side sub-contiguous. Median tentacle in line with the centers of the anterior eyes; short and pointed, shorter than the width of the prostomium. Paired tentacles a little shorter than the median; each attached in front of the median at a point midway between the latter and the anterior eye. Tentacular cirri much longer than the tentacles, attenuated distad, pointed. The notocirri are all similarly attenuated and run out to a rather fine point. Neurocirri very thick, conical, each with a black dot near middle. Contrasting with the preceding species in color in having the dorsum in general light, fulvous, in part slightly dusky, with a series of dark, blackish, transverse lines across dorsum, there being four somites between each two dark lines. The body is narrowed toward both ends; venter flat and dorsum strongly arched; hesioniform. Because of the broken condition of the type the number of segments is uncertain, but is near seventy-five.
Greatest width, exclusive of parapodia, 1.5 mm.
Type—M. C. Z. 2, 150.
Dredged August 27, 1917.