Family SCALIBREGMATIDAE

Scalibregmatidae

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Family SCALIBREGMATIDAE

Compiler and date details

Jan 2011 - P. Hutchings & M. Yerman, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

1 August 2003

Introduction

Scalibregmatids inhabit muddy sediments and are found from shallow waters to the deep sea, where they are apparently more numerous and diverse. They are found in galleries in soft sediments and are relatively uncommonly collected in benthic surveys. Two species are known to be subsurface deposit feeders and it is reasonable to expect that most other scalibregmatids feed similarly. However, the biology of the family has not been well studied.
Scalibregmatids are maggot-shaped or moderately long worms with a rugose and annulate epidermis. The head is 'horned', but lacks true appendages; branchiae are tufted and branched and are associated with the parapodia.

Figures of 4 genera and 7 species were given by Beesley et al. (2000: App. 1) for representation of the family in Australian waters, and 14 genera and 40+ species worldwide. This database includes 6 species from 4 genera.

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

Database Notes

proof read against Day & Hutchings 1979 by RW
updated from Kudenov & Blake, 1978 by RJ
checked against DELTA CD, 2003 by RTJ

Diagnosis

General features. Body shape arenicoliform, or grub-shaped; segments numerous (more than about 15); regionation absent. Epidermis thick and rugose. Pygidium simple ring or cone. Pygidial appendages absent, or present; more than four cirri.
Head & head structures. Head discrete and compact, dorsal to mouth. Prostomium bluntly conical to trapezoidal (narrow end anteriorly), or t-shaped, wide end anteriorly (i.e. resembling lateral horns); anteriorly without deep incisions, cirri or palpodes, or incised. Eyes absent, or present; one pair (often large, bar or triangular shaped); situated on prostomium; without lenses. Palps absent. Nuchal organs indistinct paired dorsolateral patches. Peristomial ring single (partially subdivided into two rings).
Pharynx & pharyngeal apparatus. Foregut a non-muscular axial proboscis.
Body segments & parapodia. First segment chaetigerous. First chaetiger with both notochaetae and neurochaetae; more-or-less laterally directed and free from head (though notopodial spines in anterior parapodia may be forwardly projecting). Parapodia biramous with parapodial lobes absent or low (lobes may be more prominent posteriorly); notopodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe; neuropodial lobes represented by at least one chaetal lobe. Interramal fleshy process present, cirrus-like. Dorsal cirri more-or-less cirriform. Ventral cirri present, cirriform or tapering. Branchiae present; arise from parapodia (at base); occur on at least some chaetigerous segments; single tuft per parapodium.
Chaetae. Notochaetae present. Aciculae absent. Capillary chaetae hair-like; smooth. Forked chaetae present; lyrate type; tines more or less equal in length. Spines absent, or present only in one or a few anterior chaetigers; in both notopodia and neuropodia; slightly curved and more-or-less smooth. Hooks absent.
Tube & burrow. Tube absent or unconsolidated. Burrow traces comprises interconnected galleries.

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)