BIOLOGICAL NOTES 



Pilargids were considered by Day (1967:214) to be carnivores or 

 omnivores. Litocorsa strem ma may be an active predator. As Fauchald 

 and Jumars (1979:237) pointed out, no empirical evidence of pilargid 

 food habits exists; therefore, statements regarding these strategies are 

 based only on anatomical observations. 



Most members of the family creep on the surface of the substratum 

 and do not form tubes (Day, 1967:214). Day suggested that the reduction 

 of head appendages and parapodia in Loandalia may indicate a burrowing 

 habit. This is probably also the case for Synelmis and Litocorsa . 

 Indeed, the latter, with its fused palps and thin, sleek body may be 

 well-adapted for burrowing. Ancistrosyllis commensalis Gardiner, 1976, 

 has been reported as a commensal in the burrow of the capitellid poly- 

 chaete Notomastus lobatus. 



So far as is known, sexes are separate, and planktonic larvae have 

 been found (Pettibone, 1982:10). 



SPECIES OF PILARGIDAE RECORDED FROM 

 GULF OF MEXICO BLM-OCS PROGRAMS 



Page 



Cabira incerta Webster, 1879 29-5 



Sigambra wassi Pettibone, 1966 29-8 



Sigambra tentaculata (Treadwell , 1941 ) 29-8 



Sigambra bassi (Hartman, 1945) 29-10 



Ancistrosyllis sp. A 29-14 



Ancistrosyllis sp. B 29-17 



Ancistrosyllis carolinensis Gardiner, 1976 29-17 



Ancistrosyllis sp. C 29-19 



Ancistrosyllis jonesi Pettibone, 1966 29-19 



Ancistrosyllis papillosa (Jones, 1961) 29-22 



Ancistrosyllis hartmanae Pettibone, 1966 29-24 



Pilargis berkeleyae Monro, 1933 29-26 



Pilargis sp. A 29-28 



Parandalia sp. A 29-30 



Synelmis klatti (Friedrich, 1951) 29-32 



Synelmis cf. albini (Langerhans, 1881) 29-35 



Synelmis sp. A. 29-35 



Synelmis sp. B 29-37 



Synelmis sp. C 29-39 



Litocorsa sp. A 29-41 



Key to the Genera of Pilargidae from 

 the Gulf of Mexico BLM-OCS Programs 



la. Middle and posterior notopodia with large, curved hooks (Figures 



29-6c, 8c) 2 



lb. Notopodia without curved hooks 4 



2a. Parapodia well-developed, sharply set off from body (Figure 29- 

 4a,c,g) 3 



29-3 



