ON SOME POLYCHAETES FROM ORISSA COAST

While going through the unnamed material of polychaetes from the coast of Orissa collected on dHferent occasions by parties of the Zoological Survey of India, we came across several specimens of a number of species, besides those of tne exotic Talehsapia ann andale i Fauvel. This latter species was originally described from Taleh-sap, Siam (now Thailand) and has not been subsequently reported from there or elsewhere and its occurren~e now in Orissa is therefore of considerable interest as far as the distribution of brackish water species is concerned. In the present paper, apart from giving additional description of T annandalei based on our specimens, we are giving a list of the other species in the collection alongwith relevant remarks about structural variations, distribution etc., where necessary_


INTRODUCTION
While going through the unnamed material of polychaetes from the coast of Orissa collected on dHferent occasions by parties of the Zoological Survey of India, we came across several specimens of a number of species, besides those of tne exotic Talehsapia ann andale i Fauvel.This latter species was originally described from Taleh-sap, Siam (now Thailand) and has not been subsequently reported from there or elsewhere and its occurren~e now in Orissa is therefore of considerable interest as far as the distribution of brackish water species is concerned.In the present paper, apart from giving additional description of T annandalei based on our specimens, we are giving a list of the other species in the collection alongwith relevant remarks about structural variations, distribution etc., where necessary_ SYSTEMATIC ACCOUNT Family POLYNOIDAE
Description : Prostomium with a long dorsal median tentacle and a pair of small ventral ones; body fully covered with 15 pairs of elytra, each divided into polygonal areas and fringed; dorsal cirri papillated; dorsal setae many, thin and spinulose; ventral setae stout with uni . . .dentate tip.

Lepidonotus dictyolepis Haswell
Material.: 2 ex.; Z.S.I.Reg.No.An 728/1; locality-from a gastropod shell, Puri; 6. ii. 1972; Coli Description : Prostomium squ~re-shaped with 2 pairs of tentacles and a pair of eyes;, peristomial tentacles two pairs; first setigerous segment with setae and ventral cirrus but without dorsal cirrus; proboscis smooth, upper part occasionally with ridges; proboscis opening with papillae; parapodia with compound setae, dorsal cirrus broader than longer and symmetrical; ventral cirri smaller in size with a cirrophore; a pair of anal cirri.
Remarks: This is the first record of the species from Indian waters.Earlier recorded from Persian Gulf and Atlantic Ocean.Description: Body with approximately 150-280 segments; prostomium small, lobe-like, without eyes, antennae or palps; peristomium or first segment achaetous; peristomial tentacles absent; first few segments (5) bulbous and tesselated into polygonal areas; subsequent ones moniliform; proboscis in all the specimens extruded, covered outside by transparent membrane and with 2 jaws, chitinous~ thin, curved and joined with each other on both sides; proboscis opening dorso ventral with 10-12 soft papillae; parapodia uniramous with many long capillary setae, slightly curved and with hairy spines at its upper part; a small ventral cirrus; dorsal ramus rudimentary with 1-2 simple setae and an aciculum; anal segment plate-like with 2 lateral and a median small ventral cirrus; 10-12 cm in length and 2-3 mm in width; the specimens yellowish white in colour.
Remarks: Fauvel (1932) on the basis of 2 incomplete specimens from Taleh-sap, Siam (now Thailand) established the genusTalehasapia with T annandalei as its type species and placed it in the family Hosiondae.Hartman (1947) included this species in the family Pilargiidae and gave a comprehensive account• of the genus alongwith other genera of the family.Since then this monotypic genus has not been reported from anywhere else.However, its present record from Orissa, India, extends its range of distribution considerably further westwards.Description : Pros~omium with long pointed palps and 2 pairs of eyes; peristomial tentacles 4 pairs; anterior 20 segments broader than subsequent ones; proboscis with 1st and 3rd lobe of maxillary ring without any paragnath, 2nd and 4th each with 4, Chitinous ones, 5th and 6th lobes of oral ring with a few soft ones arranged irregularly, 7th and 8th with many soft ones arranged in 5-6 rows; parapodia with 3 ligules in each ramus; dorsal cirri just above dorsal ligule, ventral cirri at base of parapodia; dorsal setae long and homogomph spinegers; ventral setae of two kinds, homogomph spinegers and a few heterogomph falcigers with tips ending abruptly; the above type of falcigers present from 7th to last segment of the specimen.
Remarks : The present specimen agrees in most of the character with Wesenberg-Lund's description of the species excepting in shape of falcigerous setae in,which character it agrees with Days' (1957) description.It also differs from two Indian forms viz., Leonnates jousseounei Gravier and L. decipens Fauvel in shape of falcigerous setae and arrangement of paragnaths respectively.This is the first record of the species from Indian waters.Earlier recorded from Iranian Gulf and estuarine waters of South Africa.Description: Proboscis with 1st lobe having 2 paragnaths in a line, 2nd with 15-20 in 3 rows, 3rd and 4th with several in a cluster, 5th and 6th with the ones in a single row, and 7th and 8th in 3-4 rows; parapodia with 3 ligules in each ramus; falcigerous bristles absent all over body, only homogomph and heterogomph spinegers present; dorsal and ventral cirri nearly of same size; jaws transparent and light yellow in colour; a dorsal median reddish .line present.

Dendronereides heteropoda Southern
Remarks : Hitherto, the only record of its occurrence was from Chingrighatta, Salt Lakes, Calcutta.This is the second record of the species.
Remarks ~ This species has so far been recorded from coasts of Cape of Good Hope by Willey (1904) and of South Africa by Day (1934Day ( , 1951Day ( and 1957)).This is the first record of the species from Indian waters.
Remarks : An heteronereid form was found in which the first epitokous segment is 16th setigerous segment; modified segments with oar-shaped setae and foliaceous lamellae.Earlier recorded from Gulf of Mannar and Andaman Islands.

S. Biswas.
Description : Prostomium small, flattened, with 4 small tentacles and a pair of eyes; proboscis with soft papillae and a pair of horny jaws inside; branchiae long and foliaceous, starting from 7th segment and continuing to 27th; parapodial rami wide apart with both rami having simple capillary setae.
Remarks : Earlier recorded from Krusadai Island.

Marphysa corallina Kinberg
Material Description : Specimens found in long tubes formed of fine sand particles with openings at both ends.
Remarks : Earlier recorded from Pearl Banks, Tuticorin.

SUMMARY
A collection of polychaetes from Orissa coast has been reported in the paper.The material contains 25 species of 22 genera and 13 families.Brief taxonomic notes including morphological variations, new locality records and other relevant information is furnished with respect to each species listed herein.Chief highlight <.?f the report is the discovery from the Orissa coast of Talehasapia annandalei Fauvel, originally reported from Taleh-sap, Siam (now Thailand).This species has never been rediscovered nor redescribed.Based on the examination of the material at our disposal, we have given additional description of this species.Five species are being recorded for the first time from Indian waters.
Prostomium with a large median ventral tentacle and a pair of small laterals situated dorsally; body fully covered with 12 pairs of elytra each fringed and divided into polygonal areas, thes~ 327 in turn with a black rounded papilla; dorsal setae few, thin and spinulose; ventral setae many, stout, unidentate and without any spinous pouch.Remarks: Earlier recorded from Shingle Island, Gulf of Mannar.Oneex.; Z.S.I.Reg.No.An 730/1; Iocality-Gopalpur beach; 30.iii.1973; ColI.V K. Premkumar.Remarks : Hitherto, the only record of its occurrence was from the banks of a canal near Barantolla, Salt Lakes, Calcutta.This is the second record of the species.