Etrical plates and is covered by a thick cuticle, especially along
Etrical plates and is covered by a thick cuticle, specifically along its margins (Vejdovsk882:36, Pl. , fig. eight). Von Marenzeller (879) made the first fine illustration on the shield of S. costata and later (von Marenzeller 890), he compared the shields in 4 species and their sizerelated variations. His illustrations are very superior and beneficial for understanding the shield parts and their variations PubMed ID:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11836068 (Fig. B); von Marenzeller also gave precise localities for two species (S. affinis Stimpson, 864, and S. costata von Marenzeller, 879), and what he regarded as S. scutata (Ranzani, 87), we’re herein identifying this as S. thalassemoides Otto, 82. Regardless of the observed differences, von Marenzeller regarded his previously described species as a junior synonym of a Mediterranean species.Revision of Sternaspis Otto, 82 (Polychaeta, Sternaspidae)Figure . A Sternaspis sp. ventral view with some morphological capabilities B Ventrocaudal shields of some Sternaspis species C Shield parts as herein proposed to distinguish distinctive species (AD: anterior depression, FPP: fan posterior projection) (A modif. just after Uschakov 955, reproduced with permission; B modified right after von Marenzeller 890).The drawings of von Marenzeller 
(Fig. C) assistance in the understanding of variations in the common shield’s shape. The shield as a entire is normally wider than long, despite the fact that person, lateral plates often develop into wider than extended in larger specimens. These lateral plates are generally fused throughout their length plus a suture is often visible involving them, often operating throughout the shield, but in some other species these plates are fully fused in order that sutures are usually not visible, or indistinct. The shield varies in diverse species concerning the MedChemExpress TCS-OX2-29 relative shape in the anterior margins, which could be projected as rounded or acute corners, the relative curvature in the lateral margins, and specifically in their posterior projection or fan. The anterior margin of every single lateral shield plates has an anterior projection or keel, which is generally covered by the physique wall, and this covering and the relative exposure of the anterior shield margins result in an anterior depression; this depression could be shallow as in S. thalassemoides, or deep as in S. costata. Fans are formed by the inner posterior portions of every lateral plate; the posterior margin varies in shape depending on the relative extension with the posterior corners, the relative development of your median notch, and its posterior edge. Hence, the fan’s margin can reach the shield’s posterior corners as in S. affinis, or S. costata, or markedly extend beyond them as in S. fossor Stimpson, 853. The median notch could be missing as in S. thalassemoides, shallow as in S. affinis, or deep as in S. fossor (Fig. B); additional, the posterior fan margin can beKelly Sendall Sergio I. SalazarVallejo ZooKeys 286: 4 (203)crenulated when the ribs marginal projections are low and round, or denticulate if these projections are sharp. Our objectives for this study had been to revise the status of all species within the genus Sternapsis from kinds or topotype specimens. This permitted us to propose emendations and redescriptions for species, and deliver good illustrations. Within this contribution, we 1st studied the morphological variation of your ventrocaudal shield in distinct sized specimens of a single species in the identical locality and validated its usage as a diagnostic function. On this basis, three genera are recognized and two are newly propose.