Family CHRYSOPETALIDAE

Treptopale sp.

© Copyright Charlotte Watson, Northern Territory Museum

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Introduction

Chrysopetalids are small, mobile polychaetes distinguished primarily by biramous parapodia supporting golden or silver coloured flattened notochaetae (= paleae) and/or spines that form semi-radiate, imbricating fans covering the dorsum. They are most frequently found in clear waters ranging from intertidal to abyssal (4000 m). They inhabit cracks and crevices associated with coral and rocky reefs, a wide range of algae & seagrass, rotting wood, and sand/mud substrates. The feeding biology is little known, but appears largely opportunistic and strongly related to habitat.

Figures of 9 genera and 23 species were given by Beesley et al. (2000: App. 1) for representation of the family in Australian waters, but only 10 species from 6 genera have been published. Eleven genera and 41 species are known worldwide.

See Watson Russell (2000) for detailed treatment of the family.

Database Notes

proof read against Day & Hutchings 1979 by RW;
taxa added from Watson Russell, Hartmann-Schröder and Perkins papers (RTJ)
checked against DELTA CD 2003 by RTJ

Diagnosis

General features. Body shape vermiform, or ovate to rounded; dorsoventrally flattened, or not dorsoventrally flattened; segments numerous (more than about 15); regionation absent. Pygidium simple ring or cone. Pygidial appendages absent, or present; one pair of cirri and single medial papilla.
Head & head structures. Head discrete and compact, dorsal to mouth. Prostomium rounded to oval (anteriorly truncate). Eyes absent, or present; one pair, or two pairs; situated on prostomium; compound with lenses. Prostomial antennae present; include paired anterolateral ones and single medial one; smooth. Palps paired; bi-articulated (faintly); ventrolateral. Nuchal organs indistinct paired dorsolateral patches. Peristomial ring absent.
Pharynx & pharyngeal apparatus. Foregut a muscular axial pharynx; with one pair of lateral jaws; fang-like.
Body segments & parapodia. First segment with tentacular cirri. Tentacular cirri 2 pair(s); arise on a single segment; internal aciculae absent. First chaetiger with notochaetae only, or with both notochaetae and neurochaetae; anteriorly directed and wrapping around head, or more-or-less laterally directed and free from head. Parapodia biramous with prominent parapodial lobes; notopodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe; neuropodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe. Dorsal cirri more-or-less cirriform. Ventral cirri present, cirriform or tapering. Branchiae absent.
Chaetae. Notochaetae present. Aciculae present; in both dorsal and ventral positions (=noto- and neuroaciculae). Capillary chaetae absent. Paleae present, arranged in fans across dorsum. Spines absent, or present in most or all chaetigers; in notopodia only; with series of rings or half-rings of spinelets. Hooks absent. Compound chaetae present; appendage distally tapering to slender tips (=spinigerous), or distally curved (=falcate); appendage not canaliculated; appendage without hoods or guards; joint distinctly asymmetrical (=heterogomph); joint effected by ligament(s); shaft tapering slightly or evenly thick from emergence to joint; shaft with camerated core. Compound falcigers present in most or all chaetigers.
Tube & burrow. Tube absent or unconsolidated. Burrow traces absent.

The above description was generated from: 'C.J. Glasby & K. Fauchald (2002 onwards). POLiKEY. An information system for polychaete families and higher taxa: Version 1: September 2002.'
(See ABRS website: Online Resources: Polikey, for Version 2, released June 2003)

General References

Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Glasby, C.J. (eds) 2000. Polychaetes & Allies: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia Vol. 4A Polychaeta, Myzostomida, Pogonophora, Echiura, Sipuncula. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 4 Part A xii 1-465 pp.

Watson Russell, C. 2000. Family Chrysopetalidae. pp. 121-125 in Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Glasby, C.J. (eds). Polychaetes & Allies: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia Vol. 4A Polychaeta, Myzostomida, Pogonophora, Echiura, Sipuncula. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 4 Part A xii 1-465 pp.

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