Nerillidae

Identification guide

Nerilla australis is the only published record of a Nerillidae from Australian species. A second species, apparently undescribed, has been collected from a cave on Christmas Island (R.Wilson unpublished observation).

All 15 genera of Nerillidae are described below.

PH working notes: need to try and find a fig to illustrate each of these genera three still to find

Afronerilla Faubel, 1978
Type species Afronerilla hartwigi Faubel, 1978
Description Nerillidae without prostomial appendages, antennae and palps lacking. All chaetae simple capillaries. Segments 2-7 with parapodial cirri. [After Westheide, 1990; figure supplied from Faubel, 1978]

Bathychaetus Faubel, 1978
Type species Bathychaetus heptapous Faubel, 1978
Description Nerillidae without antennae, with two lateral club-shaped palps, seven similar chaetigerous segments, chaetae all unjointed capillaries. Pharynx apparatus with masticating structures. [After Westheide, 1990; fig 25 supplied]

Bathynerilla Faubel, 1978
Type species Bathynerilla marina Faubel, 1978
Description Small worms with eight segments with capillary chaetae; parapodial cirri on each segment; without anal cirri. [After Faubel, 1978; figure supplied from Faubel, 1978

Meganerilla Boaden, 1961
Type species Meganerilla swedmarki Boaden, 1961
Description Body with nine segments including the pharyngeal segment. Two large palps and maximally one smooth antenna present. All chaetae simple capillaries. Gonochoristic. [After Fauchald, 1977 and Westheide,1990; Fig from Westheide 1990 supplied p 79

Mesonerilla Remane, 1949
Type species Mesonerilla luederitzi Remane, 1949
Description Body with nine segments including the pharyngeal segment. Two palps and three antennae present. All chaetae composite. [After Fauchald, 1977; Fig. from Schmidt & Westheide 1977-supplied

Micronerilla Jouin, 1970
Type species Mesonerilla minuta Swedmark, 1959
Description Nerillidae with three antennae and two palps; eight chaetigerous segments, parapodial cirri in segments 2-7 only; jointed chaetae throughout. [After Westheide, 1990; Fig 16- page 65- supplied]

Nerilla Schmidt, 1848
Type species Nerilla antennata Schmidt, 1848
Description Body with nine chaetigerous segments the first of which has jointed cirri. Two palps and three jointed antennae present. All chaetae simple capillaries. Gonochoristic. [After Westheide, 1990; figure supplied from Schmidt & Westheide 1977-supplied

Nerillidium Remane, 1925
Type species Nerillidium gracile Remane, 1925
Description Body with eight segments including the pharyngeal segment. Pharyngeal segment with chaetae, maximally two smooth antennae present, although they may be absent. All chaetae simple serrated capillaries. Hermaphroditic. [After Fauchald, 1977 and Westheide 1990; figure supplied from Schmidt & Westheide 1977-supplied

Nerillidopsis Jouin, 1966
Type species Nerillidopsis hyalinai Jouin, 1966
Description Body with eight chaetigerous segments including the pharyngeal segment. Two smooth antennae and two palps. Buccal segment and segments 5-8 with serrated capillaries; segments 2-4 with jointed chaetae Hermaphrodite. [After Fauchald, 1977 & Westheide, 1990; figure supplied from Westheide 1990 page 67

Paranerilla Jouin & Swedmark, 1965
Type species Paranerilla limnicola Jouin & Swedmark, 1965
Description Body with seven segments including the pharyngeal segment. Antennae and parapodial cirri absent; palps reduced to triangular lateral corners on the prostomium. Chaetae composite. Mud dwelling forms. [After Fauchald, 1977; Need figs

Psammoriedlia Kirsteuer, 1966
Type species Psammoriedlia ruperti Kirsteuer, 1966
Description Body with seven segments including the pharyngeal segments. Antenna absent, two palps present, parapodial cirri present , except on last segments. Chaetae simple capillaries. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Kirsteuer, 1966]

Thalassochaetus Ax, 1954
Type species Thalassochaetus palpifoliaceus Ax, 1954
Description Body with eight segments including the pharyngeal segments. Antenna and parapodial cirri absent; present. All chaetae composite spinigers. [After Fauchald, 1977; Figure supplied from Ax, 1954]

Trochonerilla Tzetlin & Saphanov, 1992
Type species Trochonerilla mobilis Tzetlin & Saphanov, 1992
Description Small worms, with eight chaetigerous segments, three antennae, absence of palps; parapodia with two bundles of simple chaetae and pygidium with two anal cirri. Active and highly mobile species with strong ring of cilia on the first chaetigerous segment which it uses for swimming. [After Tzetlin & Saphanov, 1992; figure supplied from Tzetlin & Saphanov, 1992]

Troglochaetus Delachaux, 1921
Type species Troglochaetus beranecki Delachaux, 1921
Description Body with eight segments including the pharyngeal segments. Antenna absent; palps present; pharyngeal segment achaetigerous. All chaetae simple capillaries. Freshwater and caves. [After Fauchald, 1977; Need figs

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