Family Flabelligeridae

Flabelligeridae
Flabelligeridae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsal view of anterior region.

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Flabelligeridae (Click to enlarge)
Flabelligeridae (collected from Tathong Channel).  Dorsal view of anterior region. Flabelligeridae (Click to enlarge)

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Order Flabelligerida
Family Flabelligeridae

Features
Body: cyclindrical or fusiform; epidermis covered by papillae in most forms
Prostomium: retractable between the first three setigers; a slender ridge with palps at the posterolateral sides
Peristomium: retractable between the first three setigers; branchiae on an expanded dorsal membrane
Eye: 2
Antennae: absent
Cirri: absent
Palp: 2
Pharynx: non-eversible
Parapodium: biramous
Setea: capillary
(Fauchald 1977)

Biological Notes
       Flabelligerids are heavily impregnated with sand or mud in a matrix of mucus (Fauchald 1977).   They are deposit feeders.   The food particles are collected by their large frilly paips or the dorsal semi-circle of branchial filaments.   Some genera are tubicolous while others creep about under stones or burrow just below the surface of the sand (Day 1967).


Genera and Species Reported in Hong Kong

Brada ferruginea
Brada
 talehaspensis
Brada villosa
Pherusa
sp.
Therochaeta sp.

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