Order Spionida
Family Magelonidae
Features |
| Body: |
long and slender; divided
into two regions |
| Prostomium: |
flattened, anteriorly ovate or tuncate; no
appendage |
| Peristomium: |
fused with at least 2 segments |
| Eye: |
absent |
| Palp: |
2 very long palps which are papillose
distally present at the junction of the pro- and peristomium on the ventral side |
| Pharynx: |
eversible |
| Parapodium: |
biramous |
| Setea: |
capillaries and hooded bi- or multidentate
hooks |
| (Fauchald 1977) |
Biological Notes
Magelonids burrow in muddy sand
using the spade-like head and large distensible proboscis. They are detritus
feeders. The food particles are gathered by a pair of very long palps which
bear sticky papillae and brought to the mouth by muscular contraction (Day 1967).
They build very flimsy tubes and tend to move through the sediment (Fauchald 1977).
Genera and Species Reported in Hong Kong
Magelona crenulifrons |
