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Quick
guides - "earthworm-like" polychaetes
The following table includes some families which are quite unrelated to one another, but are nevertheless sometimes confused by inexperienced sorters, because of some superficial similarities and a generalised "earthworm-like" appearance. The interactive key to polychaete families distinguishes these exhaustively, but the following table may also help:
Arenicolidae |
Arenicolidae
have bodies that are greatly swollen at the anterior end (rather than
being of even thickness) and heavily rugose. Non-retractile branchiae
occur conspicously on many segments. The pharynx has no jaws or other
hard parts. Chaetae include hooded hooks, but only in one bundle per
segment (not in dorsal and ventral bundles), and hirsute-serrate capillaries.
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Capitellidae |
Capitellidae
are small to large, with bodies that are of even thickness - "worm-like"
and smooth or lightly rugose. Retractile branchiae may be present
but are usually inconspicous. The pharynx has no jaws or other hard
parts. Chaetae include hooded hooks, which on posterior segments occur
in dorsal and ventral bundles, and smooth capillaries. |
Lumbrineridae |
Lumbrineridae
are small to large, with bodies that are of even thickness - "worm-like";
segments are quite smooth. Eyes are absent. The pharynx carries several
jaw elements - mandibles and maxillae - which are often visible without
dissection as dark internal structures; the maxillae are supported
by a pair of "carriers" which are much shorter than the combined mandibles.
Chaetae include hooded hooks, but only in one bundle per segment (not
in dorsal and ventral bundles), and smooth capillaries. |
Oenonidae |
Oenonidae are
small to large, with bodies that are of even thickness - "worm-like";
segments are quite smooth. Eyes are present. The pharynx carries several
jaw elements - mandibles and maxillae - which are often visible without
dissection as dark internal structures; the maxillae are supported
by a pair of long "carriers" which are much longer than the combined
mandibles. |
Questidae |
Questids are
small worms (up to about 0.1 mm wide) with bodies that are of even
thickness - "worm-like". The pharynx has no jaws or other hard parts.
Chaetae include hooded hooks, which on posterior segments occur in
dorsal and ventral bundles, and serrated-spinose capillaries. |
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