Psammodrilidae

Identification guide

A psammodrilid resembling Psammodrilus balanoglossoides is recorded from the marine intertidal of New Zealand (Riser 1984) but there are no Australian records. Both known genera are described below.

Psammodriloides Swedmark, 1958
Type species Psammodriloides fauveli Swedmark, 1958
Description Body with two distinct regions; head and trunk; six thoracic chaetigers, each with a dorsal cirrus supported by an aciculum. Ten abdominal chaetigers; each with a single uncinus in each neuropodium. Eversible pharynx absent. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Westheide 1990-supplied
Comments Psammodriloides contains a single species (P. fauveli).

Psammodrilus Swedmark, 1952
Type species Psammodrilus balanoglossoides Swedmark, 1952
Description Body in three regions, head, pharyngeal regions and trunk. Six thoracic chaetigers with dorsal cirri supported by acicula; up to about 30 abdominal chaetigers, each with several uncini in each neuropodium. Pharyngeal apparatus present. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied Fig 1.131- Page 241- Polychaete & Allies
Comments Two species of Psammodrilus are known: P. balanoglossoides and P. aedifactor.

Description | Identification tips | Natural History | Diversity | Checklist | References | Identification guide