General Feature

   Phyllodocidae are common shallow-water polychaetes. They  are usually associated with hard substrates, e.g. cobbles, stones.

  Their body shows different kinds of colour, such as green, red and yellow. They have long and slender bodies with numerous segments. 

phyllodocidae1.jpg (32958 bytes)

Whole segment

Prostomium

   Prostomium is usually cordiform with a pair of well-developed eyes. They have 4-5 antennae. No palps. 

   Proboscis with papillae.

   The first one to three segments are modified or fused to form peristomium.

   2-4 pairs of tentacular cirri.

   Eversible pharynx always muscular and cylindrical.

phyllodocidae2.jpg (31116 bytes)

Prostomium

Parapodia and Setae

   Parapodia are usually uniramous or sub-biramous with the notopodia represented by a short stalk and large, foliose dorsal cirri.

   Foliose dorsal cirri held erect over the dorsum, rarely with acicula or setae.

   All neurosetae composite; notosetae, when present, simple. 

phyllodocidae4.jpg (22975 bytes)Foliose dorsal cirri

      

phyllodocidae(S)1.jpg (13996 bytes)Parapodia &

foliose dorsal cirri

 

 

 

phyllodocidae(S)2.jpg (30873 bytes)

 Uniramous parapodia & compound spinigerous setae

 

Amphinomidae Dorvilleidae Eunicidae Glyceridae Goniadidae Hesionidae Lumbrineridae Nephytidae Nereidae Onuphidae Phyllodocidae Pilargiidae Polynoidae Sigalionidae

Developed by: P. L. Chan     Last modified: 4 April,00