POLYCHAEiTE WORMS, PART 1 229 



Superfamily Eunicea 



Includes the Liimbrineridae, Arabellidae, Lysaretidae, Onuphidae, 

 Eunicidae, and Dorvilleidae, sometimes considered as subfamilies 

 belonging to the family Eunicidae. The euniceids have a charac- 

 teristic dark chitinous or horny (may be partially calcified) pharyngeal 

 apparatus. The pharynx is capable of protrusion and is provided 

 with a pair of ventral plates, called mandibles, and a more dorsal 

 bilaterally arranged series of chitinous plates, called maxillae. The 

 maxillary pieces consist of several pairs of toothed plates (numbered 

 I to VI, mth additional embedded maxillary carriers) or numerous 

 rows of toothed plates (in Dorvilleidae). 



The parapodia are essentially uniramous. The notopodia may be 

 represented by rudimentary lobes or only by a few embedded noto- 

 acicula in the bases of the dorsal cirri. The setae are of 1 to several 

 kinds, simple or compound or both. Dorsal and ventral cutI and 

 branchiae are present or lacking. Anal cirri are 2-4 in number. The 

 prostomium is bare, without appendages or provided with 1 to 7 

 antennae and 2 palps, with or without eyes (0, 2, 4). T3^picaUy 

 there are 2 apodous and achaetous tentacular segments (single in 

 Onuphidae and some Lysaretidae, due apparently to fusion of the 

 first segment either with the prostomium or second segment), with 

 or without a single pair of dorsal tentacular cirri. The euniceids 

 vary from those of minute size to very large ones — among the largest 

 of the polychaetes. 



The families of Eunicea may be separated by the key below (see 

 also the key to the families on p. 10, based on more external 

 characters) . 



Key to the Families of Eunicea 



1. Maxillae consisting of numerous small denticled pieces arranged in longi- 



tudinal series (fig. 60/). Prostomium (fig. 60a) with a pair of elongate 

 lateroventral palps and a pair of articulated dorsolateral antennae (or both 

 pairs short, subequal in Ophryotrocha). Two apodous tentacular segments, 

 without tentacular cirri. Dorsal and ventral cirri present, subulate (fig. 

 606). Without branchiae. Setae simple and compound. Mostly small to 



minute in size Dorvilleidae (p. 230j 



Maxillae consisting of few denticled plates, 3>^ to 6 pairs. Mostly larger in 

 size 2 



2. Maxillae with a pair of short broad maxillary carriers, or supports, embedded 



in the pharyngeal tissue, without unpaired piece (fig. 69j). With or with- 

 out branchiae. With hooded hooks (fig. 69g) or with compound or pseudo- 

 compound setae at least on some anterior setigers 3 



Maxillae with a pair of long slender maxillary carriers, or supports, embedded 

 in the pharyngeal tissue and usually also an unpaired median piece (fig. 

 72h; maxillary carriers may be rather short in some Lysaretidae). Without 

 branchiae. Without ventral cirri. Setae all simple, without compound 

 setae or hooded hooks. Prostomium conical or rounded, without distinct 

 palps. Without tentacular cirri 5 



