Australaugeneria is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes 4 species which are commensal on octocorals.

Australaugeneria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Clade: Pleistoannelida
Subclass: Errantia
Order: Phyllodocida
Family: Polynoidae
Genus: Australaugeneria
Pettibone, 1969[1]
Type species
Polynoe rutilans
Grube, 1878

Description

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Elytra 15 pairs, 36–40 segments. Lateral antennae inserted ventrally (beneath prostomium and median antenna). Neuropodia deeply incised vertically, so that the neurochaetae emerge from a prominent division between the pre-chaetal (=acicular) lobe and the post-chaetal lobe. Notochaetae present, hooked neurochaetae in anterior-most segments, bidentate neurochaetae absent (summarised from detailed diagnosis of Ravara & Cunha, 2016).[2]

Ecology

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All known species of Australaugeneria appear to be commensals on alcyonacean or gorgonian corals.[2][3]

Species

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Four species of Australaugeneria are accepted as valid as of June 2020:[3]

References

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  1. ^ Read, G.; Fauchald, K. "World Polychaeta database. Australaugeneria Pettibone, 1969". World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ^ a b Ravara, Ascensão; Cunha, Marina R. (2016). Two new species of scale worms (Polychaeta: Aphroditiformia) from deep-sea habitats in the Gulf of Cadiz (NE Atlantic). Zootaxa. 4097(3): 442–450
  3. ^ a b Read, Geoffrey B.; Fauchald, Kristian (2020). "The World Polychaeta Database".