Grube, 1850
Description:
Worms with a relatively elongated body, which is not divided into distinct regions. Prostomium is small, without antennae; its anterior end is of variable form even within a single species; a short frontal horn at each anterior corner may be present; may have a short mid-dorsal occipital tentacle posteriorly. Eyes usually present. Two very long, usually sturdy palps which are very mobile in life and usually roll up spirally when the animal is disturbed; these often fall off in preserved material. Proboscis is poorly developed. Posterior caruncle present.
First segment folded around prostomium, with uni- or biramous parapodia.
Parapodia biramous: both notopodial and neuropodial chaetal lobes low, transverse ridges or low mounds, backed by flattened postchaetal lobes at least in anterior segments. Dorsal, flattened gills usually present, often fused to notopodial postchaetal lobes (gills cylindrical in Streblospio benedicti ). Chaetae variously modified capillaries and dentate, hooded or unhooded hooks.
Pygidium variously ornamented, with an anal funnel or numerous anal cirri (Spionidae).
After: Fauchald and Rouse, 1997 and Hayward and Ryland, 1990.
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 299: Spionidae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Aonides
Genus Laonice
Genus Malacoceros
Genus Marenzelleria
Genus Microspio
Genus Polydora
Genus Prionospio
Genus Pygospio
Genus Scolelepis
Genus Spio
Genus Spiophanes
Genus Streblospio
Aonides oxycephala
Aonides paucibranchiata
Laonice bahusiensis
Laonice cirrata
Laonice sarsi
Malacoceros fuliginosus
Malacoceros tetracerus
Malacoceros vulgaris
Marenzelleria viridis
Marenzelleria wireni
Microspio mecznikowianus
Polydora antennata
Polydora caeca
Polydora caulleryi
Polydora ciliata
Polydora cornuta
Polydora flava
Polydora giardi
Polydora hermaphroditica
Polydora hoplura
Polydora ligerica
Polydora limicola
Polydora paucibranchiata
Polydora pulchra
Polydora quadrilobata
Polydora socialis
Prionospio banyulensis
Prionospio cirrifera
Prionospio fallax
Prionospio multibranchiata
Prionospio plumosa
Prionospio steenstrupi
Pygospio elegans
Scolelepis bonnieri
Scolelepis cantabra
Scolelepis foliosa
Scolelepis korsuni
Scolelepis squamata
Scolelepis tridentata
Spio filicornis
Spio goniocephala
Spio martinensis
Spiophanes bombyx
Spiophanes kroeyeri
Spiophanes urceolata
Streblospio benedicti