Phylo Kinberg, 1866

Blake, James A., 2020, New species and records of deep-water Orbiniidae (Annelida, Polychaeta) from the Eastern Pacific continental slope, abyssal Pacific Ocean, and the South China Sea, Zootaxa 4730 (1), pp. 1-61 : 28

Genus Phylo Kinberg, 1866

Type-species: Phylo felix Kinberg, 1866 , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Prostomium pointed on anterior margin; peristomium with one achaetous ring. Branchiae first present from setiger 5–7. Posterior thoracic segments with several postsetal lobes and subpodial lobes (at least five of each type) together usually forming ventral fringe. Thoracic neurosetae include blunt uncini and crenulated capillaries; posterior thoracic segments with modified spear-like spines in neuropodia. Flail setae present or absent in posterior abdominal notopodia.

Remarks. Species of Phylo are characterized by having a posterior section of the thoracic region modified and bearing long, pointed spines in the neuropodia. These spines provide species of Phylo with an obvious and practical distinctness that makes them easy to identify. Twelve species of Phylo are considered valid ( Read & Fauchald 2019). Specimens of P. nudus ( Moore, 1911) were encountered in the present study and include the deepest known records for the species.