Laonice sp. MoV 6418  

Prostomium blunt, anteriorly truncate or rounded (narrow), anterior margin with entire anterior margin. Lateral horns absent. Caruncle present, continuing back to chaetiger 4 (caruncle to about the 4th chaetiger, fused to dorsum). Occipital antenna absent (absent from other specimen). Nuchal organ long, extending back more than one segment, extending posteriorly to chaetiger 4 (alongside caruncle). Eyes present; 2 eyes (medium sized). Palps simple, lacking basal sheath. Dorsal ridge connecting bases of branchiae on chaetiger 1 absent. Prominent dorsal collar on setiger 2 absent. Dorsal branchiae present. Dorsal branchiae present until at least 22–24, end of fragments. Dorsal branchiae free and separate from notopodial lamellae throughout (although the shape of the notopodial lammellae give the impression that some branchiae are fused), all simple. First branchiae without process at base on anterior face. Accessory branchiae arising from posterior part of notopodium absent. Ventral branchiae absent. Chaetiger 3 without filament at base of branchiae. Dorsal crests absent. Ventral crests absent. Chaetiger 1 notopodium present. Chaetiger 1 notochaetae present. Anterior setigers with 2 rows of chaetae. Neuropodial lobe of chaetiger 2 rounded, approximately symmetrical. Neuropodial lobes of posterior chaetigers a single lobe. Interparapodial pouches present. Interparapodial pouches on chaetigers 10–22 (present until the end of both fragments (20 and 22)). Notopodial postchaetal lobes are mostly rounded and tapering to a point dorsally, giving the appearance that the branchiae are fused to the notopodium. Neuropodial post chaetal lobes also have a small tip, a continuation of the dorsal edge and pointing laterally. Chaetigers 2–4 similar, not strongly differentiated. Chaetiger 5 unmodified, similar to subsequent chaetigers. Posterior modified notochaetae absent. Notopodial hooded hooks absent. Neurochaetae of chaetiger 1 simple capillaries similar to those of subsequent chaetigers. Neuropodial hooded hooks present, first present on chaetiger 20 (initially 4 per chaetiger, unknown after that due to short fragment). Neuropodial hooded hooks with accessory tooth or teeth above the main fang. Shaft of neuropodial hooded hooks of constant thickness, lacking a constriction. Neuropodial sabre chaetae present, in ventral-most positions, first on chaetiger(s) 12–14 (1 per chaetiger). Neuropodial spines absent. Embedded bunches of notopodial needle chaetae absent. Pygidium unknown.

Description generated from: Wilson, RS & McDiarmid, H 2013. Spionidae (Polychaeta)- A DELTA database of genera, and Australian species. Version 2; originally published as In RS Wilson, PA Hutchings & CJ Glasby (eds) Polychaetes: An Interactive Identification Guide. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.