Branchiosyllis Ehlers, 1887

Nascimento, Rodolfo Leandro, Fukuda, Marcelo Veronesi & Paiva, Paulo Cesar De, 2019, Two new sponge-associated Branchiosyllis (Annelida: Syllidae: Syllinae) from Northeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 4568 (2), pp. 307-322 : 309

Genus Branchiosyllis Ehlers, 1887

Type species: Branchiosyllis oculata Ehlers, 1887

Diagnosis. Body slender with medium to large size, with numerous segments, subcylindrical, dorsoventrally flattened or, in a few species, laterally compressed. Palps totally free from each other or partially free along half of their length. Prostomium with four eyes, some species also with two anterior eyespots, and three antennae. Two pairs of peristomial cirri. Antennae, peristomial, dorsal and anal cirri distinctly articulated. Parapodial lobes dorsally provided with branchiae in some species. Modified falciger chaetae with blades rotated 90°, claw-shaped (‘ungulae’). Simple chaetae absent. Pharynx with anterior tooth, trepan absent, with soft papillae on opening in some species. Proventricle usually as long as pharynx. Reproduction by acephalous stolon (cf. San Martín 2005).