Australaugeneria Explained

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

Description

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).^[1]

Ecology

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

Species

Four species of Australaugeneria are accepted as valid as of June 2020:

• Australaugeneria iberica Ravara & Cunha, 2016
• Australaugeneria michaelseni Pettibone, 1969
• Australaugeneria pottsi Pettibone, 1969
• Australaugeneria rutilans (Grube, 1878)

Notes and References

1. 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
2. Web site: Read. Geoffrey B.. Fauchald. Kristian. The World Polychaeta Database. 2020.