4 Proboscis with tufts of soft papillae on maxillary ring {Laeo- 



)iereis). Anterior parapodia with three notopodial lobes L. culvert 



4' Proboscis with one row of soft or lightly chitinized papillae 

 on oral ring. (Wcbstcrincri'ts) Anterior parapodia with three 

 notopodial lobes. [Posterior parapodia with neuropodial 

 lobes well separated from notopodial lobes. No simple anky- 

 losed neurosetae] W. trideutata 



5 Chitinous paragnaths restricted to maxillary ring (Cerata- 



//rrc/.s). [No notopodial falcigers] 6 



5' Chitinous paragnaths present on both basal and maxillary 



rings 7 



6 Anterior feet with two notopodial lobes. [Dorsal cirrus shorter 



than superior lobe] C. irritahiUn 



6' Anterior feet with three notopodial lobes C. versipedata 



7 Paragnaths on group VI as one or more conical points (Nereis) 8 



7' Paragnaths on group VI as one or more plain transverse 



bars (Perinereis) No N.C. record 



7" Paragnaths on group VI as one or two small comblike bars 

 (PlatipierciN). [Notopodial falcigers of posterior feet with 

 a minute terminal knob] P. dumerilii 



8 Posterior notosetae include one or more falcigers (subgenus 



Nereis) 9 



8' Posterior notosetae all spinigerous (subgenus Neaiithes). [An- 

 terior feet with three notopodial lobes] 11 



9 Anterior feet with three notopodial lobes. [Proboscis with 



groups VII and VIII forming a band of three to four rows. 



Notopodial falcigers with long, lightly serrated blades] N. (Nereis) IciDiellosn 



9' Anterior feet with two notopodial lobes 10 



10 Group VI with a close-set group of 3-4 paragnaths; groups 



VII and VIII with none. Notopodial falcigers of posterior 



feet with short oval blades. [Dorsal cirri very short] N. (Nereis) graiji 



10' Group VI with 4 paragnaths in a close-set group and groups 



VII and VIII with 3-7 points in a single row. Notopodial 



falcigers of posterior feet with long blades. [Two rows of 



brown spots on anterior segments] N. (Nereis) riisei 



10" Group VI with 4-6 paragnaths and groups VII and VIII with 



numerous paragnaths in two to three irregular rows A^. (Ne)-eis) falsa 



11 Paragnaths on basal ring of proboscis in distinct groups: 



V = 1-4; VI = 6-8; VII and VIII = two or three irregular 



rows. [Superior lobe of posterior feet lamellar] N. (Neaittlns) siireiind 



ir Paragnaths on basal ring of proboscis forming a broad and 



continuous band of points N. (Neaiithes) neii iiiiiiata 



37 



