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A new species of the ampharetid genus Amphicteis, A. hwanghaiensis sp. nov., is described based on material from the Yellow Sea. The new species is characterized by the possession of long, stout, golden paleae with blunt tips, digitiform rudimentary notopodia on the abdominal uncinigers, uncini with a subrostral process, and a narrow rectangular hump separating branchial groups. Amphicteis dalmatica was redescribed from type materials at the Australian Museum, Sydney, and the differences between A. dalmatica and A. hwanghaiensis sp. nov. are discussed. A key to distinguish Amphicteis species described or reported in Western Pacific waters is provided.

Based on polychaete specimens collected from coastal areas of China in 1959, a new species of the family Orbiniidae, Leodamas sinensis sp. nov. is described in the present paper. The new species can be distinguished from its cogeners by the combination of following characters: branchiae present from chaetiger 5; each thoracic neuropodial postchaetal lobe possessing broad tori, with a digital to triangular-shaped papilla at its midlength; 4 or 5 vertical rows of uncini and one posterior row of accompany capillaries in thoracic neuropodia; acicula present in both abdominal notopodia and neuropodia, slightly or distinctly projecting. A key to all known species of the genus is provided.

A new record of the ampharetid genus Auchenoplax, A. worsfoldi Jirkov and Leontovich, 2013, is reported and described from the East China Sea. The specimens agree well with the original description of Auchenoplax worsfoldi with two pairs of branchiae, two thoracic uncinigers with enlarged neuropodia and 12 abdominal uncinigerous segments. The present specimens have long and filiform branchiae extending to thoracic chaetiger 9, which was not included in the original description. This is the first record of this species in Chinese waters.

Key to all Lepidonotopodium species 1. Body small (less than 15mm), not more than 25 segments......................................................2 - Body large (more than 25 mm), more than 25 segments.......................................................3 2. 23 segments.......................................................................................... 4 - 24 segments..........................................................................................5 3. 30 segments, elytra with 2 raised macrotubercles.................................................... L. fimbriatum - Less than 30 segments..................................................................................6 4. Elytra with 6���12 macrotubercles.................................................................. L. atalantae - Elytra with clavate micropapillae................................................................. L. minutum 5. Elytra with numerous foveolae............................................................ L. okinawae sp. nov. - Elytra scattered clavate micropapillae...................................................................... 7 6. 28 segments, pharynx with 7 pairs of unequal-sized papillae, jaws with up to 12 basal teeth................... L. piscesae - Egments, pharynx with subequal papillae, jaws with 7 basal teeth..................................... L. williamsae 7. Elytra with branching veins emanating from the place of attachment to the elytrophores, pharynx with 7���9 pairs of papillae............................................................................................... L. riftense - Elytra without branching veins, pharynx with 7 pairs of unequal papillae.................................. L. jouinae, Published as part of Sui, Jixing & Li, Xinzheng, 2017, A new species and new record of deep-sea scale-worms (Polynoidae: Polychaeta) from the Okinawa Trough and the South China Sea, pp. 562-570 in Zootaxa 4238 (4) on pages 568-569, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/375499

Genus Lepidonotopodium Pettibone, 1983 Type species: Lepidonotopodium fimbriatum Pettibone, 1983 Generic diagnosis (Emended from Pettibone, 1983). Body short, flattened, spindle-shaped; 23 to 30 segments (first achaetous). Elytra 11 pairs, on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21. Prostomium deeply bilobed, median antenna short, without lateral antenna; palps cylindrical, smooth, with filamentous tips. Two pairs of jaws, serrated or with teeth. First or tentacular segment fused to prostomium, without chaetae. Parapodia biramous, with notopodia shorter than neuropodia. Notopodia subconical, with projecting acicular processes and well-developed bracts encircling notopodia anteriorly and dorsally. Ventral segmental papillae lacking or with 2 to 5 pairs., Published as part of Sui, Jixing & Li, Xinzheng, 2017, A new species and new record of deep-sea scale-worms (Polynoidae: Polychaeta) from the Okinawa Trough and the South China Sea, pp. 562-570 in Zootaxa 4238 (4) on page 566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/375499, {"references":["Pettibone, M. H. (1983) A new scale worm (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from the hydrothermal rift-area off western Mexico at 21 N. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 96 (3), 392 - 399."]}

Branchipolynoe pettiboneae Miura & Hashimoto, 1991 (Figs. 1���3) Branchipolynoe pettiboneae Miura & Hashimoto, 1991: 166 ���174, figs. 1���3; Desbruy��res et al., 2006: 231, figs. 1���4. Material examined. 4 specimens (MBM 304552- MBM 304555), mantle cavity of Bathymodiolus platifrons, coldseep, 22˚6' N, 119˚17' E, 1120m, northeastern South China Sea, Chinese manned submersible Jiaolong, Dive 54, 18 June 2013, collectors Jianwen Qiu and Xinzheng Li; 10 specimen (MBM 304556- MBM 304565), ibid, Dive 61, 9 July 2013, 1120m, collectors Xinzheng Li and Jianwen Qiu. 2 specimens (MBM 304568-30456), Hydrothermal vent, Okinawa Trough, MBM 304566, 27 ��33.06928���N, 126��58.13082���E, 1361 m, coll. Faxian ROV of R/ V Kexue, 20 Mar. 2014. Description. (Based on the largest specimen (MBM 304552)). Length 34mm, width 11 mm, excluding chaetae. The mean values of all specimens 23 mm long, 7 mm wide. Body short, spindle-shaped, slightly tapered anteriorly and posteriorly, flattened ventrally and strongly arched dorsally with 21 segments (Fig. 1 a, b). Distinct segmental or nephridial papillae absent, except for 2 pairs of long ventral papillae on segments 11 and 12, projecting posteriorly (Fig. 1 c). With 10 pairs elytra, attached on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. Elytra large, oval, smooth, elytra do not cover entire body, leaving mid dorsum uncovered. Non-elytra-bearing segments with dorsal cirri, which extend to reach the tips of neurochaetae. Pygidium with one pair of anal cirri. Branchiae well developed, arborescent, with long terminal filaments. Branchiae emerging from body in two short trunks, lower group attached dorsal to the base of notopodia or cirrophores of dorsal cirri and upper one attached to the lateral base of the elytrophores or dorsal tubercles. Branchiae beginning on segment 3 (5 branches on each trunk), becoming larger with more numerous branches in middle (15 branches on each trunk on segment 10), continuing to posterior region (15 branches on upper trunk, 16 branches on lower trunk on segment 18) (Fig. 1 d). Prostomium relatively small, oval and bilobed, with two rounded lateral anterior lobes, lateral antennae and eyes absent. Median antenna inserted anteriorly, distinct, conical, with short tip; ventro lateral palps thick, extending beyond prostomium (Fig. 1 a, b; Fig. 2 a, b). First or tentacular segment fused to prostomium and not distinct dorsally; tentaculophores lateral to prostomium, achaetous, short and bulbous, each with pairs of short cirriform tentacular cirri, shorter and more slender than palps. Notopodia from segment 2, small, papillary (Fig. 2 c, d); segment 2 to 21 with2���3 notochaetae, projecting, stout, with serrated distal margin (Fig. 3 a). Neuropodia larger, rounded, with numerous slender neurochaetae and lower buccal cirri attached basally, similar to tentacular cirri but smaller. Neurochaetae stouter than notochaetae, having two kinds: one with tapered, serrated distal margin (Fig. 3 b, c) and the other with obviously hooked tips (Fig. 3 d). Distribution. Japan, the South China Sea. Remarks. Three species have been reported in the genus Branchipolynoe. The specimens agree with the description of Branchipolynoe pettiboneae with large elytra, sub-biramous parapodia and branchiae beginning on segment 3. The original description did not mention the variation of the number of branches of the arborescent branchiae. The present specimens have large, arborescent branchiae continuing to the posterior region. The type specimens of Branchipolynoe pettiboneae were found from hydrothermal vents in the Kaikata Seamount (580m) and the Okinawa Trough (1340m). We also found two specimens in the Okinawa Trough (27��33.06928���N, 126��58.13082���E), very close to the type locality (27��16.0���N, 127��05.0���E). Here is the first time for the species to be found from cold-seep in the South China Sea. A key to all Branchipolynoe species is given., Published as part of Sui, Jixing & Li, Xinzheng, 2017, A new species and new record of deep-sea scale-worms (Polynoidae: Polychaeta) from the Okinawa Trough and the South China Sea, pp. 562-570 in Zootaxa 4238 (4) on pages 563-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/375499, {"references":["Miura, M and Hashimoto, J. (1991) Two new branchiate scale-worms (Polynoidae: Polychaeta) from the hydrothermal vent of the Okinawa Trough and the volcanic seamount off Chichijima Island. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 104, 166 - 174.","Desbruyeres, D., Segonzac, M. & Bright, M. (2006) Handbook of Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vent Fauna, second Edition. Denisia, 18, 1 - 544."]}

Lepidonotopodium okinawae sp. nov. (Figs. 4���6) Material examined. Holotype. Hydrothermal vent, Okinawa Trough, MBM 304566, 27 ��33.06928���N, 126��58.13082���E, 1361 m, coll. Faxian ROV of R/ V Kexue, 20 Mar. 2014. Paratypes. 5 specimens. MBM 304567, same location as holotype. Description. Holotype: length 14 mm, width 7 mm, including chaetae. Colour blood red, jaws orange-yellow. Body short, spindle-shaped, slightly tapered anteriorly and posteriorly, flattened ventrally and strongly arched dorsally with 24 segments. Distinct segmental or nephridial papillae absent (Fig. 4 a, b). With 11pairs of elytra, attached on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21. Elytra opaque, oval to subreniform (Fig. 5 c, d), imbricate, covering the dorsum. Numerous scattered foveolae are located near the posterior and lateral borders of the elytra (Fig. 5 d; Fig. 6 a). There is one globular micropapilla in every foveola (Fig. 6 b). Non-elytra-bearing segments with dorsal cirri, long enough to reach the tips of neurochaetae. The dorsal tubercles on the elytrophorous segments are large and inflated. No elongate ventral papilla. Pygidium with one pair of anal cirri. The prostomium is bilobed, the anterior lobes subtriangular, each with a small frontal filament; lateral antennae are absent (Fig. 5 a, b). The median antenna is inserted in the anterior notch, having a short cylindrical ceratophore and a relatively long subulate style. The palps are subulate, smooth, with filamentous tips, more than two times the length of the prostomium. Eyes absent. The first or tentacular segment is not visible dorsally. The tentaculophores of the tentacular segment are lateral to the prostomium and lack chaetae. The styles of the dorsal tentacular cirri and the ventral ones are smooth and tapered. The mouth is enclosed in upper, lateral and posterior lips between segments 1 and 2. Pharynx with 7 pairs of unequal pear-shaped papillae, the two median papillae largest, gradually decreasing in size to the lateral. The two pairs of dorsal and ventral hooked jaws are serrated, with numerous teeth. Parapodia biramous, from segment 2 to 25, with a shorter notopodia located on the anterodorsal sides of the longer neuropodia (Fig. 5 e). The notopodium is subconical, with acicular lobe (Fig. 5 f), enclosed by a flaring bract. The neuropodium is deeply cleft on the upper and lower parts. The notochaetae are numerous, acicular, forming thick radiating bundles, protrude from the epidermis. They are stouter than neurochaetae, with blunt, straight, serrated tips (Fig. 5 e; Fig. 6 c). The neurochaetae are numerous, forming fan-shaped bundles, with one row of spines and curved tips (Fig. 6 d). Variation. Length of paratypes 8���9 mm, width including chaetae 4���5 mm, with 23���24 segments. The smallest paratype has 23 segments and other paratypes have 24 segments. All paratypes have no everted pharynx and elongate ventral papilla. Etymology. The species name is derived from the type locality, the Okinawa Trough. Remarks. The new species resembles Lepidonotopodium williamsae Pettibone, 1984 in having very similar elytrae, foveolae and micropapillae, while Lepidonotopodium williamsae differs in numbers of segments and in having ventral elongate papillae on the neuropodia. The new species is a small (not more than 15 mm) species of Lepidonotopodium, as are most other species in the genus (L. atalantae Desbruy��res & Hourdez, 2000, L. minutum Pettibone, 1989, L. jouinae Desbruy��res & Hourdez, 2000 and L. riftense Pettibone, 1984). The new species resembles L. minutum Pettibone, 1989 in having no elongate ventral papilla but differs in having more segments. In L. atalantae Desbruy��res&Hourdez, 2000, L. jouinae Desbruy��res & Hourdez, 2000 and L. riftense Pettibone, 1984, the surface of the elytra are different from the new species. A key to all Lepidonotopodium species is provided. Distribution. The Okinawa Trough., Published as part of Sui, Jixing & Li, Xinzheng, 2017, A new species and new record of deep-sea scale-worms (Polynoidae: Polychaeta) from the Okinawa Trough and the South China Sea, pp. 562-570 in Zootaxa 4238 (4) on pages 566-567, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.4, http://zenodo.org/record/375499, {"references":["Pettibone, M. H. (1989) New species of scale-worms (Polychaeta: Polynoidae) from the hydrothermal rift-area of the Mariana Back-Arc Basin in the western central Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 102 (1), 137 - 153."]}