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Syllidae

Additional genera


Many syllid genera are poorly known and therefore could not be included in the Syllidae interactive key. However, we have included below a brief description of these additional genera, where possible including subfamily placement and figures.

Alcyonosyllis Glasby & Watson, 2001
Type species Alcyonosyllis phili Glasby & Watson, 2001
Description Syllinae with long body and large number of chaetigers. Prostomium with two pairs of eyes, three antennae; palps free to base. Nuchal organs are an inconspicuous ciliated ridge between prostomium and tentacular segment. Two pairs of tentacular cirri. Antennae, tentacular cirri and dorsal cirri unarticulated. Alternating dorsal cirri of two types: longer and thicker cirri held erect and curling over dorsum, slightly displaced dorsally compared to shorter ones; shorter and thinner cirri laterally directed. Ventral cirri present, extending to level of parapodial lobes. Parapodia uniramous, bearing subacicular unarticulated hooked chaetae with subdistal boss. Pygidium carrying pair of large unarticulated cirri. Pharynx with single anterior mid-dorsal tooth; rim smooth; ten terminal papillae. [After Glasby & Watson, 2001; figure supplied from Glasby & Watson, 2001]

Alluaudella Gravier, 1905c
Type species Alluaudella madagascariensis Gravier, 1905c
Description SF: AUTOLYTINAE. Three short antennae and occipital flap present. Palps completely fused; two pairs of tentacular cirri; chaetae all simple. Eversible pharynx unarmed. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Anguillosyllis Day, 1963
Type species Anguillosyllis capensis Day, 1963
Description SF. EXOGONINAE. Long slender forms with three minute antennae; one pair of tentacular cirri; eversible pharynx unarmed. Parapodia with long contractile dorsal lobes. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Atelesyllis Pruvot, 1930
Type species Atelesyllis rubrofasciata Pruvot, 1930
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae, palps separated to the base. Antennae and tentacular cirri very short; large occipital flap present. Eversible pharynx unarmed. Dorsal cirri emerge well above base of parapodia. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure required from Author, year

Autosyllis Imajima & Hartman, 1964
Type species Autosyllis japonica Imajima & Hartman, 1964
Description SF. AUTOLYTINAE. Three antennae, two pairs of tentacular cirri; first dorsal cirri short. Dorsal cirri clavate or foliose; nuchal projecting lobes present. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Bollandia Glasby, 1994
Type species Bollandia antipathicola Glasby, 1994
Description Antennae absent, palps absent; nuchal organs not externally exposed; three pairs of appendages on anterior end, probably representing one pair of peristomial cirri and two pairs of tentacular cirri (ie parapodia of segments 1 & 2 cephalised during ontogeny); pharyngeal apparatus consisting of sinuous, unarmed pharynx, and a barrel-shaped proventriculus. Notopodia and notochaetae absent; neurochaetae simple occur in the sub -acicular position only; anal cirri paired. [After Glasby, 1994; figure supplied from Glasby, 1994]

Braniella Hartman, 1965
Type species Braniella pupaHartman, 1965
Description SF EXOGONINAE. Three short, ovate antennae; one pair of tentacular cirri; dorsal cirri long, slender and smooth, eversible pharynx unarmed. Composite spinigers. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Campesyllis Chamberlin, 1919a
Type species Campesyllis minor Chamberlin, 1919a
Description SF. EXOGONINAE. Three short antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx sinuous and non- muscular. [After Fauchald, 1977]

Cicese Diaz-Castaneda & San-Martin, 2001
Type species Cicese sphaerosylliformis Diaz-Castaneda & San-Martin, 2001
Description Body small, cylindrical. Prostomium with two pairs of lensed eyes and two eyespots. Palps fused along entire length. Prostomium well defined, not fused to prostomium with two pairs of tentacular cirri. Dorsal and ventral cirri on all parapodia. Antennae, tentacular cirri, anal cirri and at least some dorsal cirri with bulbous bases and slender tips. Palps, pygidium and dorsum supplied with papillae. Two anal cirri. Pharynx with anterior mid dorsal tooth and a crown of papillae. Parapodia each with several compound chaetae and dorsal and ventral simple chaetae on some parapodia. Aciculae acuminate. Females carry eggs dorsally by means of notochaetae and mature males with long natatory chaetae. [After Diaz-Castaneda & San-Martin, 2001; figure supplied from Diaz-Castaneda & San-Martin, 2001]

Clavisyllis Knox, 1957
Type species Clavisyllis alternata Knox, 1957
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri; prominent nuchal epaulettes present. Eversible pharynx smooth-rimmed with single dorsal tooth. Tentacular and dorsal cirri large, ovoid and inflated. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Knox, 1957]

Dioplosyllis Gidholm, 1962
Type species Dioplosyllis cirrosa Gidholm, 1962
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae, two pairs of tentacular cirri; nuchal ridges present or absent. Palps very large and lingulate; parapodia long. Eversible pharynx with middorsal tooth, smooth-rimmed or with a few teeth. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure needed from Author, year]

Eudontosyllis Knox, 1960
Type species Eudontosyllis aciculata Knox, 1960
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Tentacular and dorsal cirri articulated, ventral cirri foliose. Eversible pharynx with middorsal tooth and denticulated margin; occipital flap present. Notoacicula present. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Exogonella Hartman, 1961
Type species Exogonella brunnea Hartman, 1961
Description SF EXOGONINAE. Antennae, tentacular and dorsal cirri absent. Eversible pharynx with a single tooth. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Exogonita Hartman and Fauchald, 1971
Type species Exogonita oculata Hartman and Fauchald, 1971
Description SF EXOGONINAE. Antennae absent; two pairs of tentacular cirri present. Eversible pharynx with a single tooth. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Exogonoides Day, 1963
Type species Exogonoides antennata Day, 1963
Description SF EXOGONINAE. Three ovoid antennae; one pair of ovoid tentacular cirri. Dorsal cirri ovoid; ventral cirri fused to parapodia. Eversible pharynx unarmed. [After after Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Fauvelia Gravier, 1900
Type species Fauvelia martinensis Gravier, 1900
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Antennae absent; tentacular cirri absent; dorsal cirri rudimentary. Eversible pharynx unarmed. [After Fauchald, 1977]

Geminosyllis Imajima, 1966c
Type species Trypanosyllis (Trypanedenta) ohma Imajima and Hartman, 1964
Description SF SYLLINAE. Body subcylindrical; three antennae, two pairs of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx with trepan of ten teeth and in addition a single large tooth. All antennae and cirri slender and articulated. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Author, year]

Grubeosyllis Verrill, 1900
Type species Grubeosyllis rugulosa Verrill, 1900
Description Body small, slender. Body surface smooth. Prostomium with three antennae, four eyes and usually two eyespots. Palps well developed, completely fused or with small terminal notch. Two pairs of tentacular cirri. Antennae, tentacular and dorsal cirri fusiform, relatively long and thin; dorsal cirri present on all segments or absent on chaetiger two in some species. Ventral cirri digitiform. Compound chaetae and solitary dorsal and ventral simple chaetae, Acicula acuminate, with long, filiform tip, tip rounded in some species, but not hollow. Pharynx wide, apparently without marginal papillae; dorsal tooth usually rhomboidal, on anterior half to anterior pharynx margin. Proventriculus proportionally long and wide. Usually two long anal cirri. [After San Martin 1991; figure supplied from Fauvel, ?year]

Haplosyllides Augener. 1922
Type species Haplosyllides floridana Augener. 1922
Description SF SYLLINAE. Three antennae; palps absent. First segment with parapodia and chaetae. Dorsal cirri long, ventral cirri short, all cirri smooth. [After Fauchald, 1977]
Comments No figures are published in the original description.

Irmula Ehlers, 1913
Type species Irmula spissipes Ehlers, 1913
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae; six pairs of ten- tacular cirri on three fused segments. All cirri smooth. Eversible pharynx with anterior single tooth. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Ehlers, 1913]

Lamellisyllis Day, 1960
Type species Lamellisyllis comans Day, 1960
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Flattened, small form. Three foliaceous antennae; one pair of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx with single tooth. Dorsal cirri flattened; ventral cirri cylindrical. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Day, 1960]

Nuchalosyllis Rullier & Amoureux, 1979
Type species Nuchalosyllis lamellicornis Rullier & Amoureux, 1979
Description Prostomium almost square in dorsal view, with four large circular eyes. Three fusiform shaped articulated antennae, with about 14 articulations.One pair of palps well separated. Well developed nuchal organ, almost as long as prostomium with about 10 lateral lamellae. Pharynx ornamented with 10 terminal papillae and single medio-dorsal tooth. Pair of tentacular cirri, dorsal lobe larger than ventral lobe. Parapodia uniramous, with swollen articulated dorsal cirrus, ventral cirrus lamellate, superior parapodial lobe with 2-3 aciculae. chaetae compound with short unidentate blades. Stolons with transparent natatory chaetae. [After Rullier & Amoureux, 1979; figure supplied from Rullier & Amoureux, 1979]

Nudisyllis Knox & Cameron, 1970
Type species Nudisyllis tinihekia Knox & Cameron, 1970
Description SF EUSYILLINAE. Antennae and dorsal cirri absent. Eversible pharynx with a single tooth; margin smooth-rimmed. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Knox and Cameron, 1970]

Odontoautolytus Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1979
Type species Odontoautolytus annulatus Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1979
Description Body with segmental ciliated rings, prostomium with 4 eyes, palps well developed, almost completely fused except for tips. Nuchal epaulettes absent but rounded nuchal lobe. Dorsal cirri present on all parapodia, cylindrical without cerataphores. Ventral cirri absent. Chaetae compound. [After Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1979; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1979]

Parahaplosyllis Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1990
Type species Parahaplosyllis brevicirra Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1990
Description Body long with numerous segments. Prostomium with 4 eyes and 2 small frontal eyes, palps oval and entirely separated. 3 antennae, first segment fused with prostomium dorsally. Ventral mouth opens anteriorly close to palps. 2 pairs of tentacular cirri. Dorsal cirri not clearly articulated, ventral cirri smooth, oval, cirriform. Chaetae simple, 2 to 3 types of chaetae present. Pharynx long, with trepan, single anterior tooth. Intestine with laterally blind endings. [After Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1990; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1990]

Paraopisthosyllis Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1991
Type species Paraopisthosyllis phyllocirra Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1991
Description Like Opisthosyllis but with short articulated antenna and cirri. [After Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1991; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1991]

Paraprocerastea San Martin & Alós, 1989
Type species Paraprocerastea crocantinae San Martin & Alós, 1989
Description Body small,short, without segmentarial segmentation ciliation, small number of chaetigers. Prostomium relatively large, partially covered by an occipital flap from tentacular segment. Four dorsal eyes and two ventral eyespots; three thick, club-shaped antennae. Palps reduced completely fused. Two pairs of tentacular cirri. Tentacular cirri and dorsal cirri of first chaetiger club-shaped. Remaining dorsal cirri minute, egg-shaped. Two subrectangular, relatively long, anal cirri. Simple chaetae of two kinds, bayonet-shaped chaetae and flacate chaetae. Pharynx slender, with a distal trepan. [After San Martin & Alós, 1989; figure supplied from San Martin & Alós, 1989]

Parapterosyllis Hartmann-Schröder, 1960a
Type species Parapterosyllis sexoculata Hartmann-Schröder, 1960a
Description SF SYLLINAE. Three antennae and two pairs of tentacular cirri. Prostomium with paired posteriorly directed nuchal lappets. All appendages articulated. Eversible pharynx unarmed. [After Author, year; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder, 1960a]

Paratyposyllis Hartmann-Schröder, 1962
Type species Paratyposyllis paurocirrata Hartmann-Schröder, 1962
Description SF SYLLINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri; eversible pharynx with single tooth. All composite chaetae falcigers; one or two simple chaetae present in each of the posterior chaetigers. All antennae and cirri with less than five articles; second segment without dorsal cirri. [After Author, year; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder, 1962]

Parautolytus Ehlers, 1900
Type species Parautolytus fasciatus Ehlers, 1900
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Antennae and cirri smooth. Eversible pharynx fmely denticulated, large tooth absent. [After Fauchald, 1977; no figures supplied in the original description]

Petitia Siewing, 1955
Type species Petitia amphophthalma Siewing, 1955
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae; one pair of tentacular cirri. Palpi biarticulate in adults. Eversible pharynx with a single tooth. Composite chaetae falcigerous. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

Pharyngeovalvata Day, 1951
Type species Pharyngeovalvata natalensis Day, 1951
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Occipital flap present. Pharynx with valve; teeth absent. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Day, 1951]

Phyllosyllis Ehlers, 1897
Type species Phyllosyllis albida Ehlers, 1897
Description SF AUTOLYTINAE. Three antennae; first segment setose, with two large, foliose cirri. Eversible pharynx without teeth. Dorsal cirri foliose. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Ehlers, 1897]

Proceraea Ehlers, 1864
Type species Proceraea sppictacies Ehlers, 1864
Description SF AUTOLYTINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Palps small and ventrally located. Eversible pharynx with trepan with numerous teeth. Epaulettes present. Bayonet-chaetae thick-shafted. Ciliary bands absent from the chaetigers. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure supplied from Ehlers, 1864]

Psammosyllis Westheide, 1990
Type species Psammosyllis aliceae Westheide, 1990
Description Syllidae with prostomium, tentacular segment, homonomous chaetigerous segments and pygidium. Prostomium with prominent, completely fused palps, three digitiform, slender antennae and eyes. Tentacular segment with 2 pairs of digitiform, slender tentacular cirri. Parapodia uniramous with slender dorsal cirri, considerably exceeding lengths of neuropodial lobes. Compound and simple chaetae present. Pygidium with two, slender anal cirru. All appendages completely smooth. Pharynx with stout falciform tooth in a depression in posterior wall; large barrel-shaped proventriculus. [After Westheide 1990; figure supplied from Westheide 1990]

Pseudexogone Augener, 1922
Type species Pseudexogone backstromi Augener, 1922r
Description SF EXOGONINAE. Three antennae; one pair of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx unarmed. Dorsal cirri present on second segment. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

Pseudosyllides Augener, 1927b
Type species Pseudosyllides curacaoensis Augener, 1927b
Description SF SYLLINAE. Three antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri; antennae and cirri strongly articulated. Eversible pharynx unarmed with a smooth margin. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

Reductotyposyllis Hartmann-Schröder, 1974
Type species Reductotyposyllis atentaculocirrata Hartmann-Schröder, 1974
Description This genus differs from Typosyllis only in the reduction of the first segment and the lack of tentacular cirri. [After Hartmann-Schröder, 1974; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder, 1974]

Spermosyllis Claparède, 1864
Type species Spermosyllis torulosa Claparède, 1864
Description SF EXOGONINAE. One antenna and one pair of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx with a single tooth. Dorsal cirri rudimentary, ventral cirri absent. [After Author, year; figure supplied from Claparède, 1864]

Sinpalposyllis Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1983
Type species Sinpalposyllis australiensis Author, year
Description Small size, prostomium with 4 eyes and 3 antennae, palps absent, 2 pairs of tentacular cirri, dorsal cirri smooth, or not clearly articulated or wrinkled. Ventral cirri short, lobate, chaetae compound, posterior parapodia also with simple chaetae, 1 in upper and 1 in lower position, 2 anal cirri present. Pharynx unarmed. [After Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1983; figure supplied from Hartmann-Schröder & Hartmann, 1983]

Streptospinigera Kudenov, 1983
Type species Streptospinigera heteroseta Kudenov, 1983
Description Prostomium with 3 pairs of eyes, 3 antennae, palps fused basally, distally rounded, blunt. Pharynx unarmed. Two pairs of tentacular cirri, cylindrical, smooth slightly club-shaped. Dorsal cirri smooth, long cylindrical, to short and subulate anteriorly, becoming strongly annulate posteriorly. Ventral cirri short. Uniramous parapodia, supported by single aciculum. Chaetae include simple dorsal chaeta distally, thicker anteriorly to those occurring posteriorly, composite falcigers, lacking distal hoods, thick anteriorly, becoming slender posteriorly. Composite spingers present medially and posteriorly, with slender shafts and prolonged blades. Pygidium terminal with 1 mid ventral and 2 dorsolateral anal cirri. [After Kudenov, 1983; figure supplied from Kudenov, 1983]

Synsyllis Verrill, 1900
Type species Synsyllis longigularis Verrill, 1900
Description SF EUSYLLINAE. Three antennae and two pairs of tentacular cirri. Eversible pharynx with mid-dorsal tooth; margin denticulated. Middle part of body with large, distally furcate simple chaetae. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

Umbellisyllis Sars, 1869
Type species Umbellisyllis fasciata Sars, 1869
Description SF AUTOLYTINAE. Three clavate antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Nuchal organs foliaceous. Dorsal cirri clavate. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

Xenosyllis Marion and Bobretzky, 1875
Type species Syllis scabra Ehlers,1864
Description SF SYLLINAE. Three short, thick antennae; two pairs of tentacular cirri. Tentacular cirri and dorsal cirri with few moniliform or collared articles. Dorsum covered with small papillae. Eversible pharynx unarmed. [After Fauchald, 1977; figure NEEDED from Author, year]

 

Description | Identification tips | Natural History | Diversity | Checklist | References | Interactive Key | Additional genera