WoRMS name details
original description
Stimpson, W. (1855). Descriptions of some new marine Invertebrata. <em>Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.</em> 7(10): 385-394., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1694499 page(s): 392-393 [details]
additional source
Day, J.H. (1934). On a collection of South African Polychaeta, with a catalogue of the species recorded from South Africa, Angola, Mosambique, and Madagascar. <em>Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology.</em> 39(263): 15-82., available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1934.tb00259.x page(s): 38, figure 5; note: record, with some taxonomic comments, and a figure of the proboscis paragnaths pattern [details] Available for editors [request]
From editor or global species database
Depth range Low-water mark. [details]
Description Original description by Stimpson (1856: 392-393): "Large, of an uniform dark sepia color above, paler below and posteriorly. Head short, eyes nearly hidden under the integument; inferior tentacles extending beyond the others. Anterior pinnae with blunt lingulae, large superior cirri, and very stout inferior setae. Posteriorly the cirri are reduced, the superior lingula compressed and slightly expanded, bearing the cirrus upon its upper edge. Maxillae broad, little curved, and nearly smooth on their inner edges. Length, 4 inches; breadth, 0.35 inch. Found among rocks at low-water mark." [details]
Distribution SE Atlantic Ocean: Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). [details]
Etymology Not stated. The specific epithet operta is a Latin participle meaning 'covered', 'enveloped' or 'closed', and could refer to the eyes, described as being "nearly hidden under the integument" (Stimpson, 1856: 392). [details]
Habitat "Found among rocks at low-water mark" (Stimpson, 1856: 393). [details]
Type locality Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, SE Atlantic Ocean (gazetteer estimate -34.19°, 18.43°). [details]
Type material Probably lost during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 (see Smithsonian archive note). [details]
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