Longosomatidae

Description

The prostomium is subtriangular and carries eversible nuchal organs. The peristomium is reduced and bears a pair of grooved palps. The thoracic region of 7 to 9 (usually 9) chaetigers has segments with low postchaetal lobes; dorsal and ventral cirri are absent. Post-thoracic chaetigers are markedly elongate. Segmental divisions are poorly delimited. Up to eight pairs of filament-like dorsal branchiae are present on thoracic chaetigers from chaetiger 2. The posterior end consists of several short inflated segments carrying falcate spines, pygidial cirri are absent. Aciculae are absent; chaetae occur in dense fascicles of capillaries, including thickened aristate and subuluncini-like capillaries, and spines.

This definition is taken from Wilson (2000), which in turn is based on Borowski (1995) and Fauchald & Rouse (1997).

Identification tips

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