The prostomium is rounded anteriorly; antennae are absent. A
pair of grooved palps is located posteriorly to the prostomium
and nuchal organs are located at their bases.
The peristomium is reduced to lips. The first segment bears
only neuropodia. Thereafter all segments are biramous with
each parapodia consisting of a broad neuropodial lobe, a
serrated subpodal membrane, a dorsal notopodial lobe with an
internal aciciulum and an inter-ramal lobe.
Branchiae and ventral cirri are absent. Numerous pygidial
cirri are present. Aciculae are only present in notopodia;
neurochaetae are terminally bifid or otherwise modified
capillaries.
The above description is based on [cite appropriate Fauna reference], which in turn is based on Fauchald & Rouse (1997).
Identification tips
Recognising the family
Apistobranchids are the only family within the palp-bearing polychaetes (the Spionida) in which the dorsal notopodial lobes are supported by aciculae.
Distinguishing species
RW to summarise from Blake 1996 ...
