Pseudopolydora uphondo Simon, Sato-Okoshi and Abe, 2017

Status
Rare, Indigenous

Description
Small, up to 7.4 mm for 60 chaetigers. Prostomium flaring to form V, sometimes T, shape.  Caruncle to ends of chaetiger 4 to 6.1 or 2 pairs of eyes in trapezoid arrangement, anterior pair double the size of posterior pair. Short occipital tentacle.
Notochaetae absent on Chaetiger 1. Chaetiger 5 weakly modified. Two types of modified spines arranged in U-shape; inner simple spines long with bulbous asymmetrical subdistal thickening, convex edge with flange-like appearance, rounded point; outer pennoned spines spoon-shaped with bristles lining concavity and tapering point, larger than simple spines. Hooded hooks start on chaetiger 8 onwards, no accompanying neurochaetae.
Branchiae start on chaetiger 7, barely touch along the midline chaetiger 9 onwards. On 14 – 25 pairs in complete specimens.
Pygidium large and fleshy, dorsal and ventral notches form lateral lobes.

Distribution
South Africa: northern KwaZulu Natal

Ecology
In sediment and algal turf, in subtropical region.

Note
Part of the Pseudopolydora antennata species complex. Members resemble each other closely, but show subtle differences in body size, shapes of simple modified spines on chaetiger 5 and methyl green staining patterns.