Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865

Liu, Yubin, Hutchings, Pat & Sun, Shichun, 2017, Three new species of Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865 (Polychaeta: Eunicida: Eunicidae) from the south coast of China and redescription of Marphysa sinensis Monro, 1934, Zootaxa 4263 (2), pp. 228-250 : 231-232

Genus Marphysa Quatrefages, 1865

Diagnosis (after Fauchald et al. 2003). Anterior body segments cylindrical (vermiform), usually becoming dorsoventrally flattened towards posterior; epidermis iridescent antero-dorsally. Prostomium with deep or faint anteroventral notch which may give it a bilobed appearance; bearing three antennae and two (lateral) palps arranged in more or less curved line near posterior edge. Eyes present or absent. Peristomium divided into two rings, anterior one longer than posterior one; peristomial cirri absent. Branchiae present over most of body or restricted to anterior half, pectinate or palmate arrangement. Chaetae at superior position consist of limbate capillaries and pectinate chaetae which may be isodont (symmetrical) or anodont (asymmetrical), while compound falcigers (may be absent), compound spinigers (rarely absent) and subacicular hooks can be found at inferior position. Labidognath jaw apparatus including ventral mandibles and dorsally positioned maxillae comprising short, winged, or slender, carriers and four paired and one unpaired maxillary plates.

Remarks. We have found that the distribution and type of pectinate chaetae (sometimes referred to as comb chaetae) a useful character to distinguish between species and used the classification proposed by Molina-Acevedo & Carrera- Parra (2015). We provide details regarding the structure of the pectinate chaetae in the Methodology section and the usefulness of using the SEM to clarify their structure.