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 
| |
| 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
editElytra 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
editAll known species of Australaugeneria appear to be commensals on alcyonacean or gorgonian corals.[2][3]
Species
editFour species of Australaugeneria are accepted as valid as of June 2020:[3]
- Australaugeneria iberica Ravara & Cunha, 2016
- Australaugeneria michaelseni Pettibone, 1969
- Australaugeneria pottsi Pettibone, 1969
- Australaugeneria rutilans (Grube, 1878)
References
edit- ^ Read, G.; Fauchald, K. "World Polychaeta database. Australaugeneria Pettibone, 1969". World Register of Marine Species.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Read, Geoffrey B.; Fauchald, Kristian (2020). "The World Polychaeta Database".