Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833
Description:
Soft and fragile worms, which occupy tough permanent tubes. Body with three different regions, with differentiated parapodia.
Prostomium small and often indistinct, without antennae (similar structures present in Phyllochaetopterus are not homologous to antennae in other Polychaeta). Mouth terminal, lacking proboscis. Peristomium limited to lips. Two long, grooved palps present.
First segment similar to following segments, with chaetae. Parapodia of anterior body region notopodia only; mid-body parapodia biramous with large achaetous notopodia and neuropodia tori; posterior parapodia biramous with either both branches pointed or notopodia pointed and neuropodia tori. Fourth chaetiger always with large modified chaetae. No aciculae. Tentacular, dorsal and ventral cirri absent. Gills absent. Pygidium without cirri (Chaetopteridae).
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 293: Chaetopteridae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Chaetopterus
Genus Phyllochaetopterus
Genus Spiochaetopterus
Chaetopterus variopedatus
Phyllochaetopterus major
Spiochaetopterus typicus