New observations on reproduction in the branching polychaetes Ramisyllis multicaudata and Syllis ramosa (Annelida: Syllidae: Syllinae)

Abstract

Reproduction in the shallow-water, sponge-dwelling, branching syllid Ramisyllis multicaudata exhibits several features unique among syllids and among annelids in general. We describe and illustrate the segmental asymmetry which intervenes between regions of symmetry, only found in branching annelids. We describe the morphology of the stolons and of the stolon stalks, which are unique to branching syllids but differ in detail from those of the other known branching syllid, Syllis ramosa. We also illustrate newly found paddle-shaped chaetae, which might indicate that these stolons do swim. We list the number of branch points and termini in an effort to gauge the extent of branching in a worm contained in a small sponge. The species appears to have separate sexes, but this cannot be proven. We compare R. multicaudata and S. ramosa as originally described and find new morphological differences between the branching syllid from Japan described as S. ramosa and R. multicaudata. We also compare the known stolons of branching syllids to those of other genera of the ‘ribbon clade’, a group including Trypanobia and Trypanosyllis, now known to be close relatives of R. multicaudata. Ramisyllis multicaudata is the first member of the ribbon clade, and one of few Syllinae, known to have sexually dimorphic stolons.