Malmgren, 1867
Sea mice
Description:
The body may be short or long, but usually flattened and elliptical in shape (Aphroditidae). Ventral surface and parapodia papillate. Nephridial papillae on posterior surface of parapodia, usually near junction of notopodium and neuropodium. Prostomium with one antennae and two palps. Eyes, if present, are sessile or on large eye-stalks. Facial tubercle present between palps and above mouth.
Peristomium limited to lips.
First segment curved around prostomium with parapodia similar to others and two pairs of tentacular cirri.
Parapodia biramous. Notopodial chaetae forming felt in many species. Neuropodial chaetae stout spines and capillaries. There are 15 or 2 pairs of scales. Dorsal cirri alternating with scales throughout. Ventral cirri present or absent (A. aculeata-parapodium).
Pygidium with one pair of cirri.
Pharynx eversible, papillate, with one pair of jaws.
After: Fauchald and Rouse, 1997 and Chambers and Muir, 1997.
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Aphrodita
Genus Hermonia
Genus Laetmonice
Aphrodita aculeata
Hermonia hystrix
Laetmonice filicornis