Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013

Lavesque, Nicolas, Hutchings, Pat, Londoño-Mesa, Mario H., Nogueira, João M. M., Daffe, Guillemine, Nygren, Arne, Blanchet, Hugues, Bonifácio, Paulo, Broudin, Caroline, Dauvin, Jean-Claude, Droual, Gabin, Gouillieux, Benoit, Grall, Jacques, Guyonnet, Benjamin, Houbin, Céline, Humbert, Suzie, Janson, Anne-Laure, Jourde, Jérôme, Labrune, Céline, Lamarque, Bastien, Latry, Lise, Garrec, Vincent Le, Pelaprat, Corine, Pezy, Jean-Philippe, Sauriau, Pierre-Guy & Montaudouin, Xavier De, 2021, The “ Spaghetti Project ”: the final identification guide to European Terebellidae (sensu lato) (Annelida, Terebelliformia), European Journal of Taxonomy 782 (1), pp. 108-156 : 124

Family Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013

Figs 3–4

Diagnosis (after Nogueira et al. 2018; Hutchings et al. 2021a, most important diagnostic characters highlighted in bold)

Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part as thick crest, eyespots frequently present in one pair of dorso-lateral clusters, each with several rows of eyespots ( Fig. 3A ); distal part at base of upper lip, frequently with low or erect mid-dorsal tongue-like process, fused to upper lip at variable degrees, with free distal lobe(s), or free from the base. Buccal tentacles of two types, short ones thin, uniformly cylindrical, long tentacles stouter and expanded at tips, slightly spatulate ( Figs 3A–B, F , 4A ). Peristomium forming lips and continuing dorsally at least for short extension, with dorso-lateral nuchal organs at margin with prostomium; lips expanded, upper lip distinctly elongate and narrow, undulated to convoluted; swollen lower lip extending across ventrum, cushion-like or segment-like, frequently deeply grooved ( Figs 3A–B , 4A ). Either SG I or SG II reduced, not forming complete ring in many species. Anterior segments glandular ventrally, smooth, discrete shields absent and frequently with glandular regions poorly developed in comparison to other families of Terebellidae s.l.; mid-ventral groove frequently extending from anterior segments. Two pairs of cirriform branchiae on SG II–III, each pair with simple thin, curled and relatively short filaments progressively tapering to tips ( Figs 3A , 4A ), originating from raised crests on anterior margins of SG II and III, or from specialised, apparently glandular, dorso-lateral cushion-like pads occupying from anterior margins to level of posterior bases of notopodia of those segments. Notopodia beginning from SG II or III, usually SG III, extending for at least 15 segments; notopodia as short cones, notochaetae originating from central core on top, distal lobes absent; notochaetae winged, sometimes with bulbous head and alimbate tips (bayonet-like chaetae), at least in anterior row of anterior thoracic segments. Neuropodia beginning posteriorly to notopodia, usually around SG VIII–XII; neuropodia in conjunction with notopodia as sessile tori, as distinctly low pinnules after notopodia terminate; neurochaetae in single row, as avicular uncini about as long as high, with short triangular heel directed posteriorly, wide and slightly curved base, and dorsal button near midlength of uncini, but closer to anterior margin ( Fig. 4E ). Nephridial and genital papillae, if conspicuous, on SG V–VII, posterior to bases of notopodia.

Remarks

This recent family was described by Nogueira et al. (2013) after conducting a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis. The members of this family were previously considered as Thelepodidae but differ in having a narrow and elongate upper lip, poorly developed neuropodia and anterior segments less glandular ventrally than in other thelepodids. In European waters, this family is represented by a single species, Parathelepus collaris ( Figs 3A–B , 4A, E ; Table 1 ), characterised by an expanded, tongue-like upper lip, by neuropodia poorly developed and beginning from SG XI.

Figures

Fig. 3. Diversity of Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013 and Thelepodidae Hessle, 1917. A. Parathelepus collaris (Southern, 1914), anterior end, frontal view (AM W.53063). B. Parathelepus collaris, anterior end, ventral view (NHMUKANEA 1983.1696).C. Thelepus japonicus Marenzeller, 1884, anterior end, lateral view (AM W.53073). D. Thelepus corsicanus Lavesque, Londoño-Mesa, Daffe & Hutchings, 2020, anterior end, frontal view (AM W.53068). E. Streblosoma cabiochi Lavesque, Londoño-Mesa, Daffe & Hutchings, 2020, anterior end, dorsal view (MNHN-IA- TYPE 2000). F. Thelepus japonicus, anterior end, ventral view (MNHN-IA-PNT 117). Abbreviations: Br = Branchiae; Bt = Buccal tentacles; Gp = genital papillae; Ll = Lower lip; Ul = Upper lip.

Fig. 4. Diversity of Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013 and Thelepodidae Hessle, 1917, SEM. A. Parathelepus collaris (Southern, 1914), anterior end, frontal view (AM W.53063). B. Thelepus corsicanus Lavesque, Londoño-Mesa, Daffe & Hutchings, 2020, anterior end, latero-frontal view (AM W.53069). C. Streblosoma cabiochi Lavesque, Londoño-Mesa, Daffe & Hutchings, 2020, anterior end, lateral view (AM W.53066). D. Thelepus corsicanus, thoracic notochaetae (AM W.53069). E. Parathelepus collaris, abdominal uncini, (AM W.53063). F. Thelepus japonicus Marenzeller, 1884, abdominal uncini, SG48. (SMA-NL-Thele08). Abbreviations: Br = Branchiae; Bt = Buccal tentacles; Lc = lateral crest; Ll = Lower lip; Vl = Ventral lobe of SG I.