Phyllodocidae


Phyllodocidae is a family of polychaete worms. Worms in this family live on the seabed and may burrow under the sediment.

Characteristics

Members of the Phyllodocidae are characterised by an eversible pharynx and leaf-like dorsal cirri. The head has a pair of antennae at the front, a pair of ventral palps and a single median antenna known as a "nuchal papilla". There is a pair of nuchal organs and there may or may not be a pair of eyes. The first two or three body segments may be part-fused and bear up to four pairs of tentacular cirri. The remaining body segments each bear leaf-like dorsal and ventral cirri, the dorsal ones being larger. The parapodia are uniramous or biramous, and chaetae are present on all but the first segment.

Genera

The World Register of Marine Species includes the following genera :