GLOSSARY OF POLYCHAETE TERMS
Compiled by
Lim Yun Ping
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| Aciculum -stout supportive setae found in each parapodial ramus. |
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| Antennae -one or more elongated projections arising from the prostomium . |
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| Biarticulated palps -sensory projection arising from the dorsal, lateral or frontal surface of the prostomium. |
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| Bidentate -with two teeth. |
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| Bilimbate -simple setae with two wings or flattened margin. |
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| Bipinnate -formed like a feather with main stem and two rows of side branches. |
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| Biramous -with two branches, parapodia with notopodia and notosetae. |
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| Branchial crown -array of elongated appendages on the head of sabellids and serpulids used both for feeding and respiration. |
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| Buccal cirri -cirri in or around the mouth; sensory rather than feeding. |
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| Capillary setae -Slender, often long setae tapering to a fine point. |
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| Caruncle -projection from the posterior end of the prostomium carrying nuchal organs. |
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| Cirriform -slender and cylindrical. |
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| Clavate -club-shaped. |
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| Comb setae -simple setae with a comb-like arrangement of teeth on the distal end; present in some euniceans. |
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| Compound setae -setae having a terminal portion which articulates with the shaft. |
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| Dentate -with teeth. |
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| Elytron -dorsal scales found in the aphroditoids. |
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| Eversible proboscis/pharynx -part of pharynx being capable of being extended by turning the inner part outwards. |
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| Falcate setae -distally curved, usually blunt setae. |
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| Falciger -compound chaetae with a stout, hooked blade or apex. |
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| Filiform -slender and threadlike. |
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| Frontal antennae -antennae situated at anterior end. |
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| Furcate setae -short (usually), bifurcated simple setae. |
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| Fusiform -cigar or spindle-shaped. |
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| Harpoon setae -Stout pointed setae with recurved barbs near the tip. |
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| Head -a structure formed by the fusion of peristomium, prostomium and in many cases, one or more cephalised segments. |
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| Limbate setae -Simple setae with a flattened wing projecting from one side along much of its distal half. |
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| Lobe -Conical process of a parapodium . |
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| Moniliform -beaded or beadlike. |
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| Multiarticulated -with several joints. |
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| Occipital -pertaining to the posterior dorsal part of the prostomium. |
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| Operculum -plug at the anterior end of some tube-dwellers which blocks the tube opening when the worm retracts. |
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| Paleal -broad, usually flattened chaetae often with a metallic sheen. |
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| Palmy -resembling the fronds of a palm. |
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| Palp -paired or multiple food-gathering appendages present in many polychaetes. Also play a sensory function in many polychaetes. |
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| Papilla |
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| Parapodia -one of the two fleshy lateral projections (sometimes greatly reduced) from a body segment and which usually bears setae. |
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| Paragnath -sclerotized denticle on the pharynx/proboscis of nereidids.. |
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| Pectinate -comblike; with series of projections arranged like the teeth of a comb. |
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| Peristomium -the presegmental region of the body surrounding the mouth. |
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| Pinnate -featherlike; two rows of pinnules branching from a central axis. |
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| Plaque -at the caudal end. |
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| Plumose -resembling down; hairy. |
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| Postsetal(b) -posterior to the setae; used about parapodial lobes or ligules. Presetal(a) -anterior to the setae, used about parapodial lobes or ligules.. |
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| Proboscis -eversible, non-muscular part of the pharynx (strictly); often used interchangeably with pharynx. |
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| Prostomium -anteriormost, presegmental and pretrochal region of the body, sometimes bearing eyes and antennae; may not be externally recognisable. |
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| Pygidium -post-segmental terminal part of the body surrounding the anus. |
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| Radiole -primary branch in the tentacular crown of sabellids and serpulids. |
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| Setae -chitinous bristle protruding from a pocket in the body wall. |
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| Simple setae -Unjointed setae. |
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| Simple setae -consist of capillary, bilimbate, limbate, falcate and paleal setae. |
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| Spatulate setae -simple setae with a broadly expanded distal margin; like a spatula. |
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| Spiniger -compound setae distally tapering to a fine point. |
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| Spioniform -looks like a spionid. |
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| sternalshield -modification of the last segments forming a ventral plate in sternaspids (see also pygidium, sternal shield, scaphe). |
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| Tentacular cirri -dorsal and/or ventral cirri of parapodia of cephalised segments, often more elongate than those of more posterior parapodia. |
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| Tridentate -with three teeth. |
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| Uncinus -deeply embedded setae with only its expanded multidentate head protruding from the body wall; usually arranged in rows transverse to the long axis of the animal. |
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| Unidentate -distally entire; often used about setae; falcate may be a better term. |
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| Uniramous parapodia -parapodium in which one ramus, most frequently the notopodium, is absent . |
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| Winged capillary setae -simple setae with a flattened wing projecting from one side along much of its distal half. |
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Pictures used here are from:
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