PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH. 95(3), 1982, pp. 571-574 REDESCRIPTION OF THE MAJOR SPINES OF POLYDORA LIGNI WEBSTER (POLYCHAETA: SPIONIDAE) Jerry D. Kudenov Abstract. — Polydora ligni Webster (Polychaeta: Spionidae) exhibits a generally unreported accessory flange on the major spines of setiger 5 resembling that seen in P. websteri Hartman, and P. haswelli Blake and Kudenov. This diagnostically important flange was previously mentioned by Foster (1971) but has otherwise not been commented on by other workers. Polydora ligni is compared with re-lated polydorids in light of this morphological evidence. Polydora ligni Webster (Polychaeta: Spionidae) was originally described as having a single subdistal accessory tooth on the major spines of setiger 5 (Webster 1879:119). Numerous specimens from southern California and other locations in North America were found to bear a subdistal, laterally produced flange of the type seen in P. websteri Hartman, and also P. haswelli Blake and Kudenov. This led to a re-examination of Webster's types. Although this accessory flange was originally mentioned by Foster (1971:22-24, fig. 19), it was inadequately described and illustrated, and its significance was not fully discussed. As a result, this systematically important feature has since been overlooked (for example, see Blake 1971:5-6, 1975:210; Blake and Kudenov 1978:248; Light 1978:175-177; Mi-chaeHs 1978; Rice and Simon 1980). The purpose of this paper is to provide additional illustrations of the accessory flange of the major spines of P. ligni, and to compare this species with closely related forms in view of this character. Polydora ligni Webster Fig. 1 Polydora ligni Webster, 1879:119, pi. 5, figs. 45-47.— Blake, 71:5-6, fig. 102 (syn-onymy). — Foster, 1971:22-24, figs. 8-21 (synonymy). — Blake and Kudenov, 1978:248, fig. 43h-j.— Light, 1978:175-178, fig. 176 (synonymy). Material.— NEW JERSEY: Great Egg Harbor, June-July 1878, H. E. Webster coll., 15 types plus 3 slides (USNM 376). VIRGINIA: York River, from oyster clusters, 11 June 1940, P. S. Galtsoff coll., 4 specimens (AHF N1510). NORTH CAROLINA: Morehead City, at causeway, in water-soaked wood, 11 July 1940, O. Hartman coll., 15+ specimens (AHF N1556); Beaufort, outer side of town marshes, on soaked wood, in soft mud, debris and in old Teredo burrows, 21 June 1940, O. Hartman coll., 10+ specimens (AHF N1557). TEXAS: Point Penes-cal, Laguna Madre, in galleries of serpulid tubes, 11 March 1950, W. A. Price coll., 30 specimens (AHF N5648). CALIFORNIA: Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Station lOA, soft mud, 3 m, 13 April 1979, D. Soule and M. Oguri colls..
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