Saint-Joseph, 1894
Description:
The body is short and spindle-shaped, covered with small papillae and characteristically encrusted with sand or mud grains incorporated into mucus secreted by these papillae, or completely sheathed in clear mucus.
Some chaetae of anterior segments are long and directed forwards, often forming a cage around the head.
Prostomium and peristomium retractile, with two thick palps and a number of slimmer simple gills.
First segment similar to following segments.
Parapodia biramous, without aciculae or cirri.
Pygidium without appendages (Flabelligeridae).
Flabelligerids typically feed on particles on the sand and mud surface, living under stones or in shallow burrows and creeping around only slowly. Commensals of sea urchins, feeding on faecal material.
After: Fauchald and Rouse, 1997 and Hayward and Ryland, 1990.
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 372: Flabelligeridae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Brada
Genus Diplocirrus
Genus Flabelligera
Genus Pherusa
Brada inhabilis
Brada villosa
Diplocirrus glaucus
Flabelligera affinis
Pherusa falcata
Pherusa flabellata
Pherusa plumosa