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Psammodrilidae
Description
The prostomium is anteriorly rounded, and the peristomium
forms two rings. Antennae and palps are absent. Nuchal
organs are present or absent. The buccal cavity is simple, and
the anterior digestive tract has a muscular ring, a feature
apparently unique among polychaetes. The
first segment is not differentiated from the next segment. The
anterior ‘thorax’ has slender notopodial lobes with aciculae;
posterior ‘abdomen’ has indistinct neuropodia and uncinial
chaetae. Tentacular cirri, dorsal and ventral cirri are absent.
branchiae and pygidial cirri are absent.
The above description is taken from Wilson (2000), which in turn follows that of Fauchald & Rouse (1997).
Identification tips
Recognising the family
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Distinguishing species
The two genera of Psammodrilids can be distinguished on the length of the dorsal cirri and the number of uncini present in abdominal segments.
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