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Aberrantidae
Description
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![Aberrantidae: Aberranta palpata [after Wolf, 1987]](Images/Abe.gif)
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Aberrantidae have a prostomium as a distinct rounded lobe. Peristomium two rings. Long median antenna located anteriorly on prostomium (two short lateral antennae are reported in two undescribed species (Mackie, Pleijel and Rouse, in prep.). Paired palps located ventrolaterally, strongly ciliated ventrally with narrow grooves leading directly into mouth. Nuchal organs present. Neuropodia projecting laterally, dorsal and ventral cirri absent. Large fusiform postchaetal lamellae with obvious highly reflective internal fibers. Dorsal flattened gills present. One pair of fusiform pygidial papillae present, separated by a small anal papilla. Jaws not observed. Notochaetae slender capillaries with marginal spines. Neurochaetae lyriform with tines equal in length, and heavier chaetae which are distally falcate.
The above description follows Fauchald & Rouse (1997: 89)
Identification tips
Recognising the family
The Aberrantidae was characterized by Wolf (1987) as having a median antenna, laterally placed paired palps and two achaetous peristomial segments. The large fusiform postchaetal lamellae with obvious highly reflective internal fibers are distinctive.
Distinguishing species
The two known species of Aberrantidae are distinguished on the basis of the length and shape of the paired palps and in the nature of the lyrate chaetae, which have spinous shafts in Aberranta palpata but have smooth shafts in A. enigmatica.
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