Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013

Hutchings, Pat, Nogueira, João Miguel Matos & Carrerette, Orlemir, 2015, Telothelepodidae, Thelepodidae and Trichobranchidae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Zootaxa 4019 (1), pp. 240-274 : 242

Family Telothelepodidae Nogueira, Fitzhugh & Hutchings, 2013

Diagnosis. Transverse prostomium attached to dorsal surface of upper lip; basal part of prostomium frequently with eyespots; distal part of prostomium low, restricted to base of upper lip, mid-dorsal process frequently present, elongate, partially attached to the upper lip or completely free. Buccal tentacles of one or two types, short ones uniformly cylindrical, long ones slightly expanded distally, spatulate, if not all uniformly cylindrical. Peristomium forming lips, sometimes continuing dorsally as narrow annulation, with nuchal organs as thin ciliate row on anterior margin; upper lip large, distinctly longer than wide, frequently highly convoluted; lower lip also expanded, frequently extending across entire ventrum, cushion-like or segment-like, with deep corrugations. Either segment 1 or segment 2 not continuing ventrally, covered by expanded lower lip; segments 3–5 or 4–5 longer than remaining, anterior margins as protruding crests ventrally. Two pairs of branchiae on segments 2–3, each pair with numerous independent curled filaments, progressively tapering to tips. Anterior body highly glandular ventrally, swollen, smooth to slightly crenulate, ventro-lateral pads or mid-ventral shields absent. Notopodia beginning from segment 3, extending for at least 15 segments; conical and relatively short notopodia, chaetae emerging from retractile central core on apex. Winged notochaetae in both rows, those of anterior row frequently with wings terminating subdistally in a bulbous “head”, followed by tapered alimbate tip (bayonet-like chaetae); transition between types of notochaetae along body occurring frequently. Neuropodia poorly developed throughout, low, almost sessile until termination of notopodia, slightly more developed after notopodia terminate, as remarkably low ridges. Neurochaetae as short-handled avicular uncini in single, straight rows throughout, with dorsal button at anterior to middle third of the base and conspicuous prow. Nephridial and genital papillae usually present, posterior to bases of notopodia of segments 5–7. Pygidium smooth to slightly crenulate.

Remarks. The family Telothelepodidae was erected recently ( Nogueira et al. 2013), including a group of genera which were previously considered as belonging to the Thelepodidae. The family is characterized by an upper lip distinctly longer than wide and very poorly developed neuropodia throughout.

Telothelepodidae contains six genera, defined by the segment on which neuropodia begin. In Decathelepus Hutchings, 1977 , neuropodia begin on segment 12; in Glossothelepus Hutchings & Glasby, 1986a , these structures are present from segment 9; in Kritzlerius Londoño-Mesa, 2009, neuropodia begin on segment 10; in Parathelepus Caullery, 1915 they are found from segment 11; while in Rhinothelepus Hutchings, 1974 , neuropodia begin on segment 8, and in Telothelepus Day, 1955 they are present from segment 18. Of those, Decathelepus and Telothelepus have two species each, Rhinothelepus has five species, including one new species described herein, and all the others are monotypic.