Key to the species of Polycirrus Grube, 1850 originally described for the Brazilian coast

1. Neuropodia with type 1 uncini........................................................................... 2

- Neuropodia with type 2 uncini........................................................................... 7

2. Notopodia terminating before segment 20.................................................................. 3

- Notopodia extending to segments 28–34......................................... Polycirrus sp. sensu Alves (2008)

3. Neuropodia beginning before termination of notopodia....................................................... 4

- Neuropodia beginning after termination of notopodia......................................................... 5

4. Neuropodia beginning from segment 12...................................................... Polycirrus paivai

- Neuropodia beginning from segment 9................................... Polycirrus sp. A sensu Blankensteyn (1988)

5. Presence of prostomial lateral processes............................................... Polycirrus nonatoi sp. nov.

- Prostomial lateral processes absent....................................................................... 6

6. Both limbate and pinnate notochaetae; glandular ventro-lateral pads covered by rounded papillae.................................................................................................... Polycirrus papillosus sp. nov.

- Only limbate notochaetae; glandular ventro-lateral pads smooth...................... Polycirrus breviuncinatus sp. nov.

7. Only pinnate notochaetae............................................................................... 8

- Notopodia with both limbate and pinnate notochaetae.......................................... Polycirrus clavatus

8. Neuropodia beginning on segment 9; ventro-lateral pads on segments 2–13................. Polycirrus habitats sp. nov.

- Neuropodia beginning on segment 8; ventro-lateral pads on segments 2–11...................... Polycirrus abrolhensis