POLYCHAETE WORMS, PART 1 235 



(fig. 62/), usually short delicate comb setae (fig. 62,g,h), with or 

 without a lower stout acicular seta (fig. 62i). With dorsal and 

 ventral cirri, some of the latter often inflated, padhke. With 2 to 4 

 anal cirri. With or without branchiae. When present, branchiae 

 appended to medial side of dorsal cirri, simple or pectinate (fig. 62rf). 



Proboscis with a pair of stout ventral wing-shaped mandibles, the 

 anterior border forming a beveled cutting edge (fig. Q2j). Maxillae 

 with a pair of short maxillary carriers, with SK to 514 pairs of maxillary 

 plates (1 more jaw plate on the left than on the right side; right 

 maxillae in missing). The basal pair, maxillae i, in the form of large 

 hooks or forceps; the rest of the maxillae toothed along the inner 

 margins (fig. Q2k). 



The family is particularly well represented in warmer tropical 

 waters; many species are associated with corals. Some of the eunicids 

 become remarkably large in size. They are active and predaceous, 

 feeding on vegetable as well as animal matter. Most species form 

 more or less permanent tubes. In some species, fissiparity occurs at 

 sexual maturity, the posterior genital segments becoming detached 

 and swarm at the surface, as for example the famous "Palolo." They 

 possess great capacity of regeneration of both the anterior and posterior 

 ends. 



Both genera represented have 5 occipital antennae (figs. 62a; Q3,a,e; 

 may be 3 antennae in young), with parapodial branchiae emerging 

 above the bases of the dorsal cirri (figs. 62f/; 636). 



Key to the New England Genera of Eunicidae 



1. Without tentacular cirri (fig. 62a) Marphysa 



With a pair of short tentacular cirri on the second tentacular segment (fig. 

 63e) Eunice 



Genus Marphysa Qiiatrefages, 1865 



Type (designated by Hartman, 1944(i): Marphysa sanguinea 

 (Montagu, 1815). 



Both species represented have the prostomium with 5 occipital 

 antennae nearly equal, slightly longer than the prostomium, smooth 

 or feebly fluted ; with 2 eyes between the bases of the paired occipital 

 antennae (figs. 62a, 63a). Two tentacular segments without ten- 

 tacular cirri, the first about twice as long as the second. Posterior 

 end with 4 anal cirri ventrally on the anal ring, the most ventral pair 

 very short, the other pair longer, filiform (fig. 62c). Anterior para- 

 podia with a digitiform postsetal lobe, gradually becoming shorter, 

 conical. 



Parapodia with setae of several kinds: Upper bundle with (1) long, 

 slender setae tapering to capillary tips (fig. Q2e) and (2) short, delicate, 



569-457—63 16 



