Below are the figures of polychaetes with more distinguishing features.
However, not all the polychaete families are represented here.
Please refer to EPIC Online if you cannot find a match with your specimen.
Aphrotiditae with hair-like setae on its back
|
Aphrotiditae with elytra(scales) on its back
|
Sigalionidae with dorsal scales and compound neurosetae.
|
Polynoidae flattened with overlapping dorsal scales.
|
Polyodontidae with dorsal scales and spinning glands.
|
Palmyridae with notosetae flattened and in rosettes.
|
Pectinaridae with body shaped like a cone.
Prostomium is reduced and rest of body is divided into 3 regions.
|
Flabelligeridae with long setae surrounding head region.
|
Scalibregmatidae: small worms with Tshaped prostomium.
|
Nephtyidae with pentagonal prostomium
|
Terebellidaewith long grooved buccal tentacles.
|
Trichobranchaetidaewith long grooved buccal tentacles
|
Oweniidae with fused prostimium and mouth with frilly tentacles.
|
Sabellariidae with tube-blocking crown of paleae and unsegmented tail region.
|
Serpulidae with frilly plume of radioles emerging from calcareous tubes.
|
Sabellidae with cylindrical body with a tentacular branchial crown.
|
Chaetopteridae Body divided into 3 distinct regions.
|
Arenicolidae :Prostomium without appendages. Cylindrical body divided into 3 regions.
|
Maldanidae jointed in appearance: looks like bamboo.
|
Cirratulidae with long distinct filamentous feeding palps.
|
Cossuridae with a distinct single filamentous dorsal palp on anterior segment.
|
Dorvelleidae with 4 distinct antennae.
|
Hesionidae with 4 cirri and 1 pair of antennae. Relatively short bodied but with distict parapodia and segmentation.
|
Pilargiidae with 2 palps, 3 antennae and 4 cirri
|
Pilargiidae with simple setae througout the body
|
Poecilochaetidae fragile worms with 4 cirri and 2 long grooved palps for feeding.
|
Pisionidae with first segment projecting outward.
|
Spionidae with caruncle and 2 large feeding palps.
|
Syllidae with 3 long, thin antennae and conspicous dorsal cirri. Conical prostomium.
|
Lysaretidae with 3 antennae
|
Opheliidae with distinct fusiform (rounded with tapering ends) shape.
|
Sternapsidae with plump body and chitinised shield at posterior end.
|
Glyceridae with everted proboscis
|
Phyllodocidae with everted proboscis
|
Eunicidae with 5 distingushing antennae and peristomium without cirri and parapodia.
|
Onuphidae with 5 staggered antennae.
|
Trochochaetidae with 2 eyes and 1 antennae.
|
Nereidae with conical head and 1 terminal antennae.
|
Alciopidae with 2 large developed eyes.
|
Orbinidae :Threadlike worms with prostomium without any appendages.
|
Capitellidae short, conical prostomium without appendages. Cylindrical body.
|
Lumbrinereidae earthworm like without prostomial appendages.
|
Arabellidae without prostomial appendages and a conical prostomium.
Pictures by P.W. Arnold (Queensland Museum).
|
An introduction to the external morphology of polychaetes is also available for beginners who are
unfamiliar with polychaetes anatomy.
