Nicolea vaili Nogueira, Hutchings & Carrerette, 2015, n. sp.

Nicolea vaili n. sp.

(Figs 1 C, 7–10)

Type material. Holotype: AM W.47703, CReefs, LI–10–74, MI QLD 2212, Day Reef, Outer Barrier, 14°28'19"S, 145°31'24"E, incomplete specimen, in excellent state of preservation, male, with 41 segments, 7.7 mm long and 0.7 mm wide. Paratypes: AM W.44522, MI QLD 2390, mounted on 2 SEM pins; AM W.44520, MI QLD 2387; AM W.44588, MI QLD 2387 (2); AM W.44487, MI QLD 2335; AM W.47809, CReefs, LI–10–034, MI QLD 2199, Turtle Beach, 14°39'08"S, 145°27'04"E.

Comparative material examined. Holotype of Nicolea amnis Hutchings & Murray, 1984, AM W.196218.

Description. In life, green body speckled with white iridescent spots (Fig. 1 C). Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part numerous eyespots more concentrated laterally, continuing across dorsum as relatively broad-line of even height, mid-dorsal gap absent; distal part of prostomium shelf-like (Figs 7 A–H, J–M; 8A–H, J–M). Buccal tentacles deeply grooved, longer tentacles shorter than region with notopodia (Figs 7 A–G, J–L; 8A–H, J–M, O). Peristomium forming lips; hood-like upper lip as long as wide; small, swollen lower lip, restricted to oral area (Figs 7 A–H, J–M; 8C–D, K, M). Segment 1 reduced dorsally, developed ventrally, with ventral lobe marginal to mouth; other lobes on anterior segments absent, but segment 2 with thickened anterior margin, protruding as a ventral crest; segments 2–4 very narrow ventrally, especially segment 3 (Figs 7 A– H, J–M; 8A–H, J–M, O). Anterior segments inflated dorsally. Paired dorso-lateral arborescent branchiae present on segments 2–3, branchial filaments with few dichotomous branches (3–5); first pair longer, about half body width of segment 2, longitudinally aligned to second pair (Figs 7 A–H, J–M; 8A–H, J–L, O). Ventral shields on segments 2– 15, shields all smooth, those of segments 2–9 rectangular, wider than long, shields progressively longer from segment 5, approximately squared on segments 10–11, then rectangular, progressively narrower to last, last pairs much shorter (Figs 7 A, C–D, J–K; 8C–D). Seventeen pairs of short and conical notopodia, beginning on segment 4 and extending to segment 20, progressively longer until segment 10, then about same size until segment 18, last two pairs shorter; notopodia originating progressively more laterally until segment 8, then longitudinally aligned (Figs 7 A–B, D–I, K–M; 8A–H, J–L, O; 9A–D; 10A–B). Notochaetae in both rows narrowly-winged distally (Figs 9 B–G; 10C–E). Neuropodia present from segment 5, as low, almost sessile ridges until segment 20, last with notopodia, and slightly raised pinnules from segment 21 (Figs 7 A–M; 8C–J; 9A; 10A–B). Neurochaetae throughout as short-handled avicular uncini, arranged in completely intercalated double rows on segments 10–20, last with notopodia, in single rows on anterior neuropodia and from segment 21 onwards. Uncini throughout with ~3 rows of progressively shorter secondary teeth (Figs 9 H–M; 10F–J). Nephridial and genital papillae usually present on segments 3 and 6–7, in line and posterior to notopodia; genital papillae with sexual dimorphism, females with rounded papillae, males with elongate, digitiform papillae (Figs 7 F, K–L; 8A–B, E–H, J). Pygidium smooth to crenulate (Fig. 8 I, N). Mucous tube.

Remarks. Nicolea vaili n. sp. is characterized by having 17 pairs of notopodia, few basal dichotomous branches on the branchiae, only 3–5, the first pair larger than second, and ventral shields present to segment 15 with their shape varying along the body. This new species is separated from both N. murrayae n. sp. and from N. amnis because these latter species have 14 and 16 pairs of notopodia, respectively. In addition, members of N. amnis have larger branchiae, with more levels of branchings and longer secondary stems, and uncini with two rows of secondary teeth and fewer teeth per row than in N. vaili n. sp., which uncini have three rows of secondary teeth.

Etymology. This species is named after Dr Lyle Vail, a Co-Director of Lizard Island Research Station who helped considerably during the workshop, driving boats and diving with us.

Type locality. Day Reef, Outer Barrier, 14°28'19"S, 145°31'24"E, GBR, Australia.

Distribution. Known only from the Lizard Island region.