World Polychaeta Database (WPolyDb). A second meeting report description of Manayunka speciosa
[complete text] [January 11, 1859] Dr. Leidy exhibited a drawing of the worm described by him at a former meeting as Manayunkia speciosa. Dr. Leidy remarked, that perhaps some of the members present would recollect he had some time since, (Proc. 1858, p. 90,) described a curious freshwater worm, Manayunkia speciosa, from the river Schuylkill. It was observed that it appeared to be most nearly allied to the marine genus Fabricia. During the last summer, Dr. L. in company with Mr. Powel sought for the latter at Newport, R. I. They found it in very great abundance at the foot of the cliffs bathed by the ocean. In its curved tubes of tenacious mud, adhering to stones, and with its projecting tentacles, it very much resembles a ciliated polype, especially Plumatella. The worm is about 1 ½ lines long, demi-cylindroid, with 12 annuli, of which all except the first are setigerous. The cephalic annulus has a short proboscis ; is provided with one or two pairs of eyes, and supports six arms with about 80 ciliated tentacles. The succeeding 7 or 8 annuli are provided on each side with fascicles of from 5 to 7 setae and as many podal spines. The posterior three annuli are provided on each side with fascicles of 2 setae and from 12 to 15 short podal spines. Anterior setae terminating in a linear lanceolate blade; posterior setae aristate. Anterior spines terminating in a hook which is dentate on its convex border; posterior spines expanded at the extremity, which is dentated on the convex border. Caudal annulus with a pair of eyes. Eyes exist in the cephalic and caudal annuli, also in the young worm. From the want of a good description and figures of the European species of Fabricia, it was not to be determined whether the American species was different from it.
