Family GONIADIDAE

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Introduction

Goniadids are strong, muscular, long-bodied, active, burrowing worms characterised by having a muscular pharynx bearing one pair of large jaws and a circlet of smaller jaw elements. Goniadids are widespread in soft sediments at all depths. Because goniadids are so similar to the Glyceridae they are presumed to be predators like glycerids. However, there are few studies of the biology or ecology of goniadids, which are morphologically more diverse than glycerids; thus a general presumption may be unwarranted. Live specimens exhibit a characteristic thrusting movement and the body wall is often irridescent.

Figures of 4 genera and 9 species were given by Beesley et al. (2000: App. 1) for representation of the family in Australian waters, and 10 genera and 90 species worldwide. This database includes 5 described species from 2 genera. Both names and descriptions of Australian goniadids can be expected to change when revisionary work (presently being undertaken by Markus Böggemann) is published.

See Wilson (2000) for detailed treatment of the family.

Database Notes

proof read against Day & Hutchings 1979 by RW; no subsequent records added
checked against DELTA CD 2003 by RTJ

Diagnosis

General features. Body shape vermiform (highly tapered at ends); segments numerous (more than about 15); regionation absent. Pygidium simple ring or cone. Pygidial appendages present; one pair of cirri.
Head & head structures. Head discrete and compact, dorsal to mouth. Prostomium conical, tapering to slender tip; anteriorly with four identical small cirriform appendages. Eyes sometimes present; one pair (basal), or two pairs (basal and subdistal); situated on prostomium; without lenses. Prostomial antennae absent (though cirriform appendages at tip of prostomium resemble antennae). Palps absent (actually fused to form the ''prostomium''). Nuchal organs present; paired posterolateral ciliated bulbs. Peristomial ring absent.
Pharynx & pharyngeal apparatus. Foregut a muscular axial pharynx; with multiple jaw elements of different shapes and sizes; comprising 1 pair toothed plates (macrognaths) and (usually) many smaller jaw pieces (micrognaths) arranged in ring (chevrons may also be present proximally); surface with hardened (sclerotised) papillae of different structures; papillae irregularly arranged; distal ring of papillae present.
Body segments & parapodia. First segment chaetigerous, or with cirri and achaetigerous. First chaetiger with neurochaetae only. Parapodia uniramous throughout, or posterior parapodia subbiramous or biramous with prominent parapodial lobes; notopodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe, or absent; 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 absent, or present (subbiramous or biramous condition). Aciculae present; in both dorsal and ventral positions (=noto- and neuroaciculae) (dorsal one sometimes absent). Capillary chaetae hair-like; spinose. Spines absent, or present in most or all chaetigers; in notopodia only; with a pointed, finely serrated distal hood (Glycinde). 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 more-or-less asymmetrical (=heterogomph); joint effected by ligament(s); shaft tapering slightly or evenly thick from emergence to joint; shaft without distinct core. Compound falcigers only present in some genera, in most or all chaetigers or restricted to particular body regions.
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)

History of changes