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 edit

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 edit

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

Species edit

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

References edit

  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".