NO. 1 hartman: goniadidae, glyceridae, nephtyidae 87 



The postacicular series of setae may be accompanied by furcate 

 (=lyrate or forked) setae (pi. 18, fig. 4) most characteristic for the 

 species of Aglaophamus Kinberg. The size of these setae and the posi- 

 tion they occupy with respect to the ornamented postacicular setae, 

 suggests their function for clearing the latter from debris. 



Color in life is often pearl to slate gray with an iridescent sheen in 

 species from littoral zones ; deep water species tend to be orange or 

 red, as are other inhabitants with which they occur. The anterior dorsal 

 side may be overlain with a dark pigment pattern in characteristic 

 arrangement. The ventrum is usually paler and tends to lack pigment. 



Species of NEPHTYIDAE are chiefly to be sought in fine sand, 

 mud or soft shaley substrata. They are errantiate in habit. Tubes are 

 not constructed but burrows are sometimes distinct. Most species are 

 littoral but some have been recorded from depths to 2500 fms. Most 

 species are stenohaline, but 2 species, Nephtys fluviatilis Monro and 

 N. oligobranchia Southern, are described from freshwater. 



Sexes are separate but distinguishable only for differences in the 

 color of gonads. Ova are typically produced in great number; they are 

 small with little yolk. Laboratory culture has been attempted with little 

 success (Wilson, 1936, p. 305). Development probably proceeds through 

 pelagic trochophore (see Fuchs, 1911, p. 164) to polytroch stages and 

 settling young. Planktonic polytrochs, with the characteristic barred 

 setae, are occasionally captured in nets along shore, but no successful 

 attempt has been made to cany such individuals through more than a 

 few days. The numerous long setae tend to get stuck and individuals 

 disintegrate. Epitoky, involving the prolongment of setae and enlarge- 

 ment of parapodial lobes, is known for some species (Fage and Legendre, 

 1927, pp. 124-128 and Augener, 1912, pp. 200-212). 



All known members of the family are so closely related to one 

 another that no doubt exists as to their affinities within the group. Thus, 

 the family has usually been recognized for a single genus, Nephtys 

 Cuvier (spelled also Nephtys Savigny, 1818, Nepthys Chamberlin, 

 1919a, Nephtis Audouin and Edwards, 1834), although several other 

 genera including Portelia Quatrefages, Diplobranchus Quatrefages, Ag- 

 laophamus Kinberg and Aglaopheme Kinberg have been long erected 

 and received occasional recognition. Micronephthys Friedrich has been 

 most recently founded. Portelia and Diplobranchus were based on 

 errors concerning the number of prostomial antennae; Aglaophamus and 

 Aglaopheme were separated from the older Nephtys for obscure differ- 

 ences concerning the structure of the maxillary jaw pieces. Up to now 



