Polynoidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of marine

Polychaete Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine annelid worms, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are ...

worms known as "scale worms" due to the scale-like

elytra An elytron (; ; , ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs ( Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometimes altern ...

on the dorsal surface. Almost 900 species are currently recognised belonging to 9 subfamilies and 167 genera. They are active hunters, but generally dwell in protected environments such as under stones. The group is widely distributed from shallow

intertidal The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species ...

waters to

hadal The hadal zone, also known as the hadopelagic zone, is the deepest region of the ocean, lying within oceanic trenches. The hadal zone ranges from around below sea level, and exists in long, narrow, topographic V-shaped depressions. The cumula ...

trenches. They are the most diverse group of polychaetes in terms of genus number and second most diverse in terms of species number which is almost 8% of all segmented worm species. Unid scale worm

Description

Most Polynoidae species are short and flattened, but can reach as much as 20 cm in length and 10 cm width in ''

Eulagisca gigantea ''Eulagisca gigantea'' is a scale worm that is widely distributed around Antarctica and the Southern Ocean at depths of about . Description ''Eulagisca gigantea'' can grow to a length of and a width of . It is dorso-ventrally flattened and has ...

'' and ''

Eulagisca uschakovi ''Eulagisca uschakovi'' is a giant scale worm known from the Antarctic, in waters such as off Mac.Robertson Land Mac. Robertson Land is the portion of Antarctica lying southward of the coast between William Scoresby Bay and Cape Darnley. It i ...

''. Individuals are usually covered almost entirely by

, which can be shed and regenerated in many species. The elytra of some species are faintly

bioluminescent Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some b ...

, and leave glowing traces around the mouthparts of their predators, making those predators more likely to be attacked in turn.

Deep sea

The first deep-sea species of Polynoidae was collected at 1230 m during the

Challenger Expedition The ''Challenger'' expedition of 1872–1876 was a scientific program that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the naval vessel that undertook the trip, . The expedition, initiated by W ...

and several a number of subfamilies appear to be restricted to the deep sea below 500 m. Species have colonised submarine caves and

hydrothermal vents A hydrothermal vent is a fissure on the seabed from which geothermally heated water discharges. They are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates are moving apart at mid-ocean ridges, ocean basins, and hotspo ...

. Deep sea species are characterised by a partial or complete loss of antennae, fewer segments, a reduction in jaws and delicate elytra.

Phylogenetic relationships

The Polynoidae has been shown to be

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic ...

, however relationships within the family are unclear and hence the number of valid subfamilies has been repeatedly revised in recent years. One of the main deep sea subfamilies, the Macellicephalinae has been consistently recovered as

paraphyletic In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...

, and it has been proposed that ten Polynoid subfamilies could be synonymized with it to create a homogeneous clade characterised by a lack of lateral antennae. More recently, however, one of the synonymized subfamilies was reinstated.

Genera

The following Polynoidae genera are recognised as valid as of June 2020: *''

Acanthicolepis ''Acanthicolepis'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus was described in 1990 and includes two short-bodied species with up to 50 segments and which occur in the Mediterranean Sea and North-east Atla ...

'' *'' Acholoe'' *''

Admetella ''Admetella'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). Species of ''Admetella'', although uncommonly collected are nevertheless known from widespread localities in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at depth ...

'' *''

Adyte ''Adyte hyalina'' is a species of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms) and the only accepted species in the genus ''Adyte''. ''Adyte hyalina'' occurs in the North-east Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, at depths down to abo ...

'' *'' Alentia'' *'' Alentiana'' *'' Allmaniella'' *'' Anotochaetonoe'' *'' Antarctinoe'' *''

Antinoe In Greek mythology, the name Antinoe (; Ancient Greek: Ἀντινόη) may refer to: * Antinoe, mother of Ancaeus and Epochus by King Lycurgus of Arcadia.Scholia on Apollonius of Rhodes, ''Argonautica'' 1.164 The latter's wife was otherwise ...

'' *''

Antipathipolyeunoa ''Antipathipolyeunoa'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus contains a single species, ''Antipathipolyeunoa nuttingi'', found in the Caribbean Sea at a depth of 91 metres.Pettibone, M.H. (1991). Poly ...

'' *'' Arcteobia'' *''

Arctonoe ''Arctonoe'' is a genus of worms belonging to the family Polynoidae. They are commonly known as "scale worms". Members of this genus predominantly occur in shallow (50 metres or less) waters of the northeast Pacific Ocean and often live as comme ...

'' *'' Arctonoella'' *''

Augenerilepidonotus ''Augenerilepidonotus dictyolepis'' is a species of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms) and the sole member of the genus ''Augenerilepidonotus''. It is known from Australia, usually from depths of about 40 metres or less. ...

'' *''

Australaugeneria ''Australaugeneria'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes 4 species which are commensal on octocorals. Description Elytra 15 pairs, 36–40 segments. Lateral antennae inserted ventrally ...

'' *''

Australonoe ''Australonoe willani'' is a species of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms), and the sole member of the genus ''Australonoe'', known only from the south-east Indian Ocean at Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Description T ...

'' *'' Austrolaenilla'' *''

Austropolaria ''Austropolaria'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes a single species, ''Austropolaria magnicirrata'', which is known only from the Amundsen Sea in the Southern Ocean, at depths of 1000 to ...

'' *'' Barrukia'' *''

Bathyadmetella ''Bathyadmetella'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The only species in the genus, ''Bathyadmetella commando'', is known from a single specimen collected at 1646m in the north-west Pacific Ocean. Description ...

'' *''

Bathybahamas ''Bathybahamas'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes a single species, ''Bathybahamas charleneae'', which is short-bodied and occurs in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean off the Bahamas ...

'' *'' Bathycanadia'' *'' Bathycatalina'' *'' Bathyedithia'' *'' Bathyeliasona'' *'' Bathyfauvelia'' *'' Bathyhololepidella'' *'' Bathykermadeca'' *'' Bathykurila'' *'' Bathylevensteina'' *'' Bathymacella'' *'' Bathymariana'' *'' Bathymiranda'' *'' Bathymoorea'' *''

Bathynoe ''Bathynoe'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes 6 species, 5 of which occur in the Pacific Ocean while one occurs in the Atlantic Ocean. ''Bathynoe'' species have been recorded from depths of ...

'' *''

Bathynotalia ''Bathynotalia'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The only species, ''Bathynotalia perplexa'', is known from a single specimen collected at 4395m in the Tasman Sea south of Tasmania, Australia. Levenstein, R. ...

'' *'' Bathypolaria'' *''

Bathytasmania ''Bathytasmania'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The only species, ''Bathytasmania insolita'', is known from a single specimen collected at 4395m in the Tasman Sea south of Tasmania, Australia. Levenstei ...

'' *'' Bathyvitiazia'' *'' Bayerpolynoe'' *'' Benhamipolynoe'' *'' Benhamisetosus'' *'' Branchinotogluma'' *'' Branchiplicatus'' *'' Branchipolynoe'' *''

Bruunilla ''Bathynoe'' is a genus of marine annelid The annelids (Annelida , from Latin ', "little ring"), also known as the segmented worms, are a large phylum, with over 22,000 extant species including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The spec ...

'' *''

Brychionoe ''Brychionoe'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes a single species, ''Brychionoe karenae'', which is long-bodied and occurs in the Tasman Sea at depths of 1100–1300 m.Hanley, J. Russell a ...

'' *''

Bylgides ''Bylgides'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus contains 9 species, all found in the Northern Hemisphere and from shallow inshore waters to depths of about 5000 m. Description Body short, 39 seg ...

'' *'' Capitulatinoe'' *'' Cervilia'' *'' Chaetacanthus'' *'' Dilepidonotus'' *'' Diplaconotum'' *''

Disconatis ''Disconatis'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus includes two species which are both commensal with other kinds of marine Annelida and occur in Australia and New Zealand.Source reference(s) for d ...

'' *'' Drieschella'' *'' Drieschiopsis'' *'' Enipo'' *''

Eucranta ''Eucranta'' is a genus of marine annelid The annelids (Annelida , from Latin ', "little ring"), also known as the segmented worms, are a large phylum, with over 22,000 extant species including ragworms, earthworms, and leeches. The spe ...

'' *''

Eulagisca ''Eulagisca'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae. The genus includes 5 species which are all found in the Southern and Antarctic Oceans and are notable for reaching a large size - 180 mm or more long - lar ...

'' *''

Eunoe Eunoe ( Greek: ) is a feature of Dante's '' Divine Comedy'' created by Dante as the fifth river of the dead (taking into consideration that Cocytus was described as a lake rather than a river). In the '' Purgatorio'', the second ''cantica'' of ...

'' *''

Euphione ''Euphione'' is a genus of polychaetes belonging to the family Polynoidae. The species of this genus are found in Australia, Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Aust ...

'' *'' Euphionella'' *'' Eupolynoe'' *''

'' *'' Frennia'' *'' Gastrolepidia'' *'' Gattyana'' *'' Gaudichaudius'' *'' Gesiella'' *'' Gorekia'' *'' Gorgoniapolynoe'' *'' Grubeopolynoe'' *'' Halosydna'' *'' Halosydnella'' *'' Halosydnopsis'' *''

Harmothoe ''Harmothoe'' is a genus of marine Polychaete worms belonging to the family ''Polynoidae'' (scale worms). Species of ''Harmothoe'' are found world-wide to depths of at least 5,000 m but are more common in shallower water. Description Bod ...

'' *''

Hartmania '' Hartmania'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. ''Hartmania'' contains a single species, ''Hartmania moorei'' which is known from the north-west Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Ameri ...

'' *'' Hemilepidia'' *''

Hermadion ''Hermadion'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. ''Hermadion'' contains a single species, ''Hermadion magalhaensi'' which is known from the South Atlantic, South Pacific and southern Indian ...

'' *'' Hermadionella'' *'' Hermenia'' *'' Hermilepidonotus'' *'' Hesperonoe'' *'' Heteralentia'' *'' Heteropolynoe'' *'' Hololepida'' *'' Hololepidella'' *'' Hylosydna'' *'' Hyperhalosydna'' *'' Intoshella'' *'' Kermadecella'' *'' Lagisca'' *'' Lepidametria'' *''

Lepidasthenia ''Lepidasthenia'' is a genus of marine Polychaete worms belonging to the family '' Polynoidae'' (scale worms). Species of ''Lepidasthenia'' are found world-wide to depths of about 1200 m but are more common in shallower water. Description ' ...

'' *'' Lepidastheniella'' *'' Lepidofimbria'' *'' Lepidogyra'' *'' Lepidonopsis'' *'' Lepidonotopodium'' *''

Lepidonotus ''Lepidonotus'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus occurs globally and includes 80 species, usually found in shallow waters down to about 80 metres. Description Body dorsoventrally flattened, sho ...

'' *''

Leucia ''Leucia'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. ''Leucia'' contains 2 species, both found in the northern Atlantic Ocean. This genus is distinguished from the closely related genus ''Harmotho ...

'' *'' Levensteiniella'' *'' Lobopelma'' *'' Macellicephala'' *'' Macellicephaloides'' *'' Macelloides'' *'' Malmgrenia'' *'' Medioantenna'' *'' Melaenis'' *'' Minusculisquama'' *'' Natopolynoe'' *'' Neobylgides'' *'' Neohololepidella'' *'' Neolagisca'' *''

Neopolynoe ''Neopolynoe'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. ''Neopolynoe'' contains 4 species, all known from the Atlantic Ocean from shallow water to depths of about 2500 m.Loshamn, Alf-Arian 1981. Des ...

'' *'' Nonparahalosydna'' *'' Olgalepidonotus'' *'' Ophthalmonoe'' *'' Parabathynoe'' *'' Paradyte'' *'' Paragattyana'' *'' Parahalosydna'' *'' Parahalosydnopsis'' *''

Parahololepidella ''Parahololepidella'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus contains a single species, ''Parahololepidella greeffi'', This species is known from the east equatorial Atlantic Ocean and Cape Verde Islands ...

'' *'' Paralentia'' *'' Paralepidonotus'' *'' Paranychia'' *'' Parapolyeunoa'' *'' Pararctonoella'' *'' Pareulagisca'' *''

Peinaleopolynoe ''Peinaleopolynoe ''is a genus belonging to the family Polynoidae (scale worms). Members of this genus generally live in nutrient-rich environments in the deep sea, such as whale fall, which is the reason for their name (Greek language, Greek pl ...

'' *'' Pelagomacellicephala'' *'' Perolepis'' *''

Pettibonesia ''Pettibonesia'' is a genus of annelids belonging to the family Polynoidae Polynoidae is a family of marine Polychaete worms known as "scale worms" due to the scale-like elytra on the dorsal surface. Almost 900 species are currently recognis ...

'' *'' Phyllantinoe'' *'' Phyllohartmania'' *'' Phyllosheila'' *'' Podarmus'' *'' Polaruschakov'' *''

Polyeunoa ''Polyeunoa'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). The genus contains two species, one from the Indian Ocean and the other widespread in the south-west Atlantic ocean and the Southern Ocean. Description Species ...

'' *''

Polynoe In Greek mythology, Polynoe or Poulynoe () was one of the 50 Nereids, marine- nymph daughters of the ' Old Man of the Sea' Nereus and the Oceanid Doris.Hesiod, '' Theogony'' 258 Her name means 'giver of reason' or 'richness of mind, thoughtful ...

'' *'' Polynoella'' *'' Polynoina'' *'' Pottsiscalisetosus'' *'' Pseudohalosydna'' *'' Pseudopolynoe'' *'' Robertianella'' *'' Rullieriella'' *'' Russellhanleya'' *'' Scalisetosus'' *'' Sheila '' *'' Showapolynoe'' *'' Showascalisetosus'' *''

Subadyte ''Subadyte'' is a genus of marine Polychaeta, polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. Eight species of ''Subadyte'' are recognised and the genus is known to occur widely in the world's oceans from the intertidal zone ...

'' *'' Telodrieschia'' *'' Telolepidasthenia'' *'' Tenonia'' *'' Thermopolynoe'' *'' Thormora'' *''

Tottonpolynoe ''Tottonpolynoe'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scaleworms. ''Tottonpolynoe'' contains a single species, ''Tottonpolynoe symantipatharia''. It is known from the South Pacific Ocean and Southern Oce ...

'' *'' Uncopolynoe'' *'' Vampiropolynoe'' *''

Verrucapelma ''Verrucapelma'' is a genus of marine annelids in the family Polynoidae (scale worms). ''Verrucapelma'' contains three species which are known from shallow water down to a depth of about 90 m. All three species occur in the Indo-Pacific region, ...

'' *'' Yodanoe'' *''

Ysideria ''Ysideria'' is a genus of marine polychaete worms belonging to the family Polynoidae, the scale worms. ''Ysideria'' contains a single species, ''Ysideria hastata'' which is known from the North Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at dept ...

References

Further information

External links

List of currently accepted Polynoidae species at the World Record of Marine SpeciesAn information system for polychaete families and higher taxa (Polikey)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q221318 Phyllodocida Annelid families