The prostomium is small and surrounded by anteriorly directed
parapodia. The peristomium is reduced to lips. A pair of lateral antennae and a median
antenna are present. The bases of the tapering,
ventral palps are fused to the ventro-medial part of the first
parapodia. Nuchal organs are present. The first segment
carries two pairs of tentacular cirri (dorsal and ventral) and
curves around the prostomium. Notopodia are shorter than the
neuropodia, which are themselves truncated.
Dorsal cirri are present on segments 3 and 6 only, and are
replaced by marginally lobate elytra on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9,
11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24. Elytra occur on alternating
segments over the first half of the body; more posteriorly
pseudoelytra are present or segments lack both elytra and
dorsal cirri. Ventral cirri are present over the whole length of
the body. True branchiae are lacking. The
pygidium bears one pair of cirri. Lateral organs and dorsal
cirrus organs have not been recorded. The buccal organ is
eversible, muscular and axial, with the two pairs of jaws
placed dorso-ventrally; terminal papillae are present. There is
no gular membrane; the gut is presumed to have diverticula in
each segment. The nephridia are probably
metanephridia. Their relationship to the coelomoducts is
unknown, as is the arrangement of segmental organs and the
circulatory system. Aciculae are present and
the chaetae comprise variously ornamented capillaries and
spines.
The above description is based on Hutchings (2000), which in turn is based on Fauchald & Rouse (1997).
Identification tips
Recognising the family
Eulepethids are long-bodied scale worms which burrow in soft sediments; they have robust bodies which are nearly quadrangular in cross section. Eulepethids can be distinguished from other scale-worms by the characteristic neuropodia which are truncate distally supported by narrow , sclerotinised ridges.. The neuroaciculae of eulepethids are also unique: they are elongated, and are shaped like an axehead or hammer.
Eulepethids are most likely to be confused with one of the other families that also have dorsal rows of scales. The quick guide to scale worms should help separate these 6 families.
Distinguishing species
Within the Eulepethidae, genera and species are distinguished by the number of pairs of elytrae (scales) and the ornamentation of the margins of the elytrae.
