Williams, 1851
Description:
Body short and broad, almost elliptical with less than 40 segments. Prostomium is small, nearly vertically orientated narrow ridge, with three antennae and 2-4 eyes. No external palps. Caruncle consisting of three lobes.
Peristomium limited to lips.
First segment curved around prostomium, with parapodia similar to those on other segments, without tentacular cirri.
Parapodia biramous. Notopodia transverse ridges nearly meeting medially, with branched gills. Chaetae capillary or forked, calcified and therefore very brittle. Aciculae present. Dorsal and ventral cirri present.
Pygidium with two inflated cirri.
Pharynx eversible, without jaws (Euphrosinidae).
World-wide distribution on various mixtures of sand, grind, stones and rocks and on corals and sponges.
After: Fauchald and Rouse, 1997 and Kirkegaard, 1992.
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 4: Euphrosinidae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Euphrosine
Euphrosine armadillo
Euphrosine borealis
Euphrosine foliosa