Genus Pelogenia Schmarda, 1861

Pelogenia Schmarda, 1861: 159 .

Pelogenia – Pettibone 1997: 30.

Type species

Pelogenia antipoda Schmarda, 1861 by monotypy.

Diagnosis

Pelogeniinae with prostomium oval, either wider than long or vice versa. Upper lip with or without facial tubercle. Median antennal ceratophore bulbous, base without ctenidia. Segment II without middorsal lobe; neuropodia without appendages; neurochaetal blades falcate, bifid and entire. Segment III with dorsal cirri; neuropodia without appendages; neurochaetal blades bifid. First pair of elytra not enlarged.

Key to species of Pelogenia Schmarda, 1861

(Modified from Pettibone 1997)

1. Segment III dorsal cirri with styles longer than cirrophores ............................................................. 2

– Segment III dorsal cirri with styles as long as cirrophores................................................................ 5

– Segment III dorsal cirri with styles shorter than cirrophores .......................................................... 12

2. Posterior elytra with balloon-like papillate medial and posterior processes, surface without numerous long papillae........................................... P. hartmanae Pettibone, 1997, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea

– Posterior elytra with cylindrical medial and posterior processes, surface with numerous long papillae ............................................................................................................................................. 3

3. Middorsum of segment II without papillae; neurochaetal handles from segment II with few transverse rows of spines ..................... P. philippinensis (McIntosh, 1885), Philippine Islands, Western Pacific

– Middorsum of segment II with papillae; neurochaetal handles from segment II with numerous transverse rows of spines................................................................................................................... 4

4. Neurochaetae from segment II with whorled handles; neurochaetae from middle segments with smooth handles and short blades .................................... P. capitata sp. nov., Mexico, Caribbean Sea

– Neurochaetae from segment II with spinous handles; neurochaetae from middle segments with handles with 2–5 transverse rows of spines and medium-sized blades ............................................... ................................................................ P. anoculata (Hartman, 1939), Costa Rica, Eastern Pacific

5. Posterior elytra without posterior processes ...................................................................................... 6

– Posterior elytra with 1–5 posterior processes .................................................................................... 9

6. Middorsum of segment II with papillae.............. P. popeae Pettibone, 1997, Australia, South Pacific

– Middorsum of segment II without papillae ....................................................................................... 7

7. Numerous ventral cirrostyles, each with one basal knob, cirrophores with long papillae ................ 8

– Ventral cirrostyles without basal knob, cirrophores with two long papillae........................................ ........................................................................ P. paxtonae Pettibone, 1997, Australia, Indian Ocean

8. Dorsal and ventral surfaces densely papillate; notochaetae all spinous capillaries............................. ................................................................. P. antipoda Schmarda, 1861, New Zealand, South Pacific

– Dorsal and ventral surfaces very finely papillate; notochaetae of two kinds: spinous capillaries and fine, hair-like chaetae........................... P. inhacaensis Pettibone, 1997, Mozambique, Indian Ocean

9. Middorsum lobe on segment II present; palps easily exceed segment four .................................... 10

– Middorsum lobe on segment II absent, notched; palps barely reach segment four............................. ................................................................. P. brevipalpata sp. nov., Mexico, Grand Caribbean region

10. Middorsum lobe of segment II rounded; neurochaetal handles with 0–3 transverse rows of spines, blades entire or bifid ...................................... P. fimbriata (Hartman, 1939), Mexico, Eastern Pacific

– Middorsum lobe of segment II subtriangular; neurochaetal handles with more than 3 transverse rows of spines, blades entire......................................................................................................................11

11. Anterior segments with few adherent dorsal papillae; palps long (11× prostomial length)................ .................................................... P. arenosa delle Chiaje, 1830, Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea

– Anterior segments with several adherent dorsal papillae; palps short (7 × prostomial length) ........... ...................................................................... P. kinbergi (Hansen, 1882), Brazil, Southwest Atlantic

12. Posterior elytra with medial processes papillate, without posterior processes; middle segments neurochaetae with handles with 5–9 transverse rows of spines .......................................................... ................................................................ P. semiglabra (Monro, 1936), New Zealand, South Pacific

– Posterior elytra with medial process papillate, with 1–6 posterior processes; middle segments neurochaetae with handles with 0–4 transverse rows of spines ...................................................... 13

13. Middle segments neurochaetae only with entire blades .................. P. rigida (Grube, 1868), Red Sea

– Middle segments neurochaetae with entire and bifid blades ........................................................... 14

14. Posterior elytra without long dentritic papillae on central regions, lateral borders not scalloped and with only one medial process ................... P. farquhrensis (Potts, 1910), Madagascar, Indian Ocean

– Posterior elytra with long dendritic papillae on central regions, lateral borders scalloped and with 2–7 medial processes....................................................................................................................... 15

15. Notopodia with dorsal lobe in all segments; middorsal ridge on median antennal ceratophore; posterior elytra with seven medial processes....................................................................................... ..................................................................... P. salazarvallejoi sp. nov., Saint Martin, Caribbean Sea

– Notopodia without dorsal lobe; median antennal ceratophore smooth; posterior elytra with two medial processes ................................................................ P. zeylanica (Willey, 1905), Indian Ocean