[From introduction:]
In the study of some Aphroditidae (sensu lato) from the coral sands of the Tulear region (Thomassin, 1970), I referred some sigalionid polychaetes to
Sthenelanella uniformis Moore (1910), originally described from California, the one validly described species at that time. Subsequent to the writing of the manuscript, Pettibone (1969) revised the genus
Sthenelanella Moore, 1910, and synonymized with it the genus
Euleanira Horst, 1916, represented by a single species,
E. ehlersi Horst (1916, 1917), originally described from Indonesia (Madura Strait, Siboga station 2). The latter species recently was reported by Day (1967) from Natal, South Africa, by Gallardo (1968) from Nha Trang Bay, South Vietnam, and by Gibbs (1971) from New Georgia, Solomon Islands.
In light of the revision by Pettibone, I reexamined my specimens from Tulear and found that they showed some characters in common with
S. ehlersi and some with
S. uniformis but differed in other respects from both species. At my request, Dr. M. H. Pettibone examined some of my Tulear specimens and concluded that they comprised a new species. She very kindly left it to me to describe. I thank her for this and for her suggestions and help. The manuscript benefited also from the suggestions of Prof. J.-M Pérès, Dr. L. Laubier, and Dr. M. L. Jones.