56 Cr-S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 27 



the specimens — a mechanical injury from penetration of numerous, 

 fine, glasshke, harpoon-shaped setae, which are difficult to remove. 

 Often brilliantly colored. 



Body short, flattened, fusiform, or moderately elongated, vermi- 

 form, subcylindrical or subquadrangular in cross section. Prostomium 

 suboval, with 5 similar, short, subulate to filiform appendages (median 

 antenna in middle, paired lateral antennae more anteriorly, paired 

 palps more laterally), usually with eyes (0, 2, or 4). Usually with 

 characteristic prostomial caruncle or crest, a posterior extension of 

 the prostomium with ciliated bands; caruncle may be absent or very 

 primitive, small cordiform, simple sinuous ridge extending over 

 several segments (fig. 13c), or exceedingly elaborate with more or less 

 convoluted dorsal and ventral lobes. 



Parapodia biramous, cylindrical, with rami well separated. Setae 

 simple, some capillary, spear shaped, harpoon shaped, bifurcated 

 (with basal spur), or hooked; setae sometimes hollow and filled with 

 a poisonous jelly. Dorsal cirri posterior to notosetae; ventral cirri 

 ventral and posterior to neurosetae. Branchiae paired, branched 

 (arborescent or pinnate), posterior to bases of notopodia, continued 

 along length of body or confined to the anterior region. Mouth ven- 

 tral, surrounded by first few setigers. Anus terminal or subterminal, 

 covered by median oval papilla or with two short anal cirri. Pro- 

 boscis eversible, short, globular to cylindrical, lacking papillae and 

 jaws. 



Predaceous, sluggish in movement, crawling around on rocks, in 

 crevices, among corals, concealing themselves in retreats which they 

 rarely leave; some found on floating timber, algae, debris, etc. 



Key to the New England Genera of Amphinomidae 



1. Body flattened, fusiform, short (up to 30 segments). Neuropodia ventral in 



position, with few stout bifid hooked, clinging setae; ventral cirri reduced 

 to short cushions ventral to neurosetae (fig. 136) .... Hipponoe (p. 57) 

 Body subcylindrical or subrectangular in cross section, slightly tapered to- 

 ward both ends, moderately elongate. Neuropodia lateral in position; 

 ventral cirri short, subulate (fig. 13c) 2 



2. Body subrectangular in cross section. Neuropodium with few, stout, hooked 



setae (fig. 13e). Prostomial caruncle cordiform, extending on first setiger 



(fig. 13fi) Amphinome (p. 59) 



Body subcylindrical in cross section. Neuropodium without hooked setae. 

 Prostomial caruncle absent or otherwise 3 



3. Branchiae begin on setiger 2, continuing posteriorly. Without hooked setae 



in notopodia of first setiger. Prostomial caruncle a simple sinuous crest 



extending on first 3 setigers (fig. 13c) Pareurythoe (p. 60) 



Branchiae begin on setigers 3 or 4, confined to anterior part of body. With 2 

 hooked setae in notopodia of first setiger. Prostomial caruncle absent or 

 poorly developed Paramphinome (p. 61) 



