Malmgren, 1867
Description:
Medium sized worms, long and thin or very small, short and grub-like. In the area concerned they are all short-bodied with indistinct segmentation and rows of inflated tubercles on the dorsum.
Prostomium is indistinct, often more or less retracted, and bears only a few short tentacular papillae. Three antennae and two similar palps.
Peristomium limited to lips.
Parapodia are simple, uniramous with an acicula and few chaetae. Chaetae are compounds and variously ornamented capillaries. Dorsal cirri are large, in a form of spherical capsules. Amongst the small, stout forms, several more spherical tubercles lie between these cirri, aligned in longitudinal rows. Ventral cirri present.
Pygidium with two cirri.
Pharynx with terminal papillae, without jaws (Sphaerodoridae).
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 448: Sphaerodoridae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Commensodorum
Genus Ephesiella
Genus Sphaerodoridium
Genus Sphaerodoropsis
Genus Sphaerodorum
Commensodorum commensalis
Ephesiella peripatus
Sphaerodoridium fauchaldi
Sphaerodoropsis baltica
Sphaerodoropsis disticha
Sphaerodoropsis minuta
Sphaerodoropsis philippi
Sphaerodorum flavum