Order SPIONIDA

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Introduction

The name Spionida was first used by Dales (1962) for a group of eight polychaete families and was ranked as an order. Prior to that the name Spiomorpha was used usually for a taxon that included Spionidae and a varied assortment of other polychaete groups (Mackie 1996). Fauchald (1977) formulated Spionida differently to Dales (1962) by removing Paraonidae and Sabellariidae, and including Magelonidae. He also divided Spionida into three groups: Spioniformia (with six families), Chaetopteriformia (with Chaetopteridae) and Cirratuliformia (with Acrocirridae and Cirratulidae). The membership of Spionida formulated by Rouse & Fauchald (1997) basically matches the grouping of Spioniformia plus Chaetopteriformia from Fauchald (1977), with the addition of the subsequently erected Uncispionidae. Cirratuliformia sensu Fauchald (1977) were placed as members of Terebellida by Rouse & Fauchald (1997) and this arrangement was adopted by Rouse (2000). The total number of described species in Spionida would appear to be around 600 worldwide, divided into about 48 genera, most being members of Spionidae. The synapomorphies for Spionida as defined by Rouse & Fauchald (1997) are the presence of a pair of peristomial grooved palps, nuchal organs forming posterior projections, and anterior excretory nephridia and posterior segmental organs for gamete release.

See Rouse (2000) for detailed treatment of the order.

General References

Dales, R.P. 1962. The polychaete stomatodeum and the inter-relationship of the families of the Polychaeta. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 139: 389-428

Fauchald, K. 1977. The polychaete worms. Definitions and keys to the orders, families and genera. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Science Series 28: 1-188

Mackie, A.S.Y. 1996. Taxonomy and phylogeny of spioniform polychaetes (Annelida). PhD Thesis, Göteborg University. 1-168 pp.

Rouse, G.W. 2000. Spionida. pp. 189-190 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.

Rouse, G.W. & Fauchald, K. 1997. Cladistics and polychaetes. Zoologica Scripta 26: 139-204

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