Spionidae (Annelida) from shallow waters around the British Islands: an identification guide for the NMBAQC Scheme with an overview of spionid morphology and biology Author Radashevsky, Vasily I. text Zootaxa 2012 3152 1 35 journal article 45709 10.5281/zenodo.209619 a46224f6-ada7-46a9-925d-b0ae9c12e212 1175-5326 209619 Key to genera of Spionidae reported from or likely to be found in shallow waters around Britain and Ireland 1 Branchiae absent. Neuropodia of chaetiger 1 with one or two large crook-like spines in addition to capillaries.... Spiophanes - Branchiae present. Neuropodia of chaetiger 1 with only capillaries............................................... 2 2(1) Chaetiger 5 with only capillaries.......................................................................... 3 - Chaetiger 5 with heavy spines in addition to capillaries....................................................... 15 3(2) Branchiae beginning after chaetiger 10, limited to middle and posterior chaetigers. One pair of dorsal appendages (horns) present on chaetiger 2 in males. Pygidium with two pairs of cirri......................................... Pygospio - Branchiae from chaetigers 1–3 for a variable number of chaetigers. Horns absent on chaetiger 2 in males. Pygidium with cirri or otherwise.......................................................................................... 4 4(3) Branchiae throughout most of body length.................................................................. 5 - Branchiae limited to anterior half of body................................................................. 10 5(4) Head anteriorly conical and distally pointed................................................................. 6 - Head anteriorly wide, truncate to conical but not distally pointed................................................ 7 6(5) Branchiae from chaetiger 1. Lateral gills present. Posterior notopodia with only capillaries....................... Dispio - Branchiae from chaetiger 2. Lateral gills absent. Posterior notopodia with hooks in addition to capillaries......... Scolelepis 7(5) Branchiae from chaetiger 1.............................................................................. 8 - Branchiae from chaetiger 2....................................................................... Microspio 8(7) Posterior notopodia with hooks in addition to capillaries............................................. Marenzelleria - Posterior notopodia with only capillaries................................................................... 9 9(8) Prostomium with fronto-lateral horns. Pygidium with more than two pairs of cirri......................... Malacoceros - Prostomium without fronto-lateral horns. Pygidium with two pairs of cirri...................................... S pio 10(4) Occipital antenna present. Nuchal organs extending beyond chaetiger 3. Branchiae present over most of anterior body Laonice - Occipital antenna present or absent. Nuchal organs extending over 1–2 anterior chaetigers or absent. Branchiae limited to first 20 chaetigers........................................................................................ 11 11(10) Posterior notopodia with only capillaries.................................................................. 12 - Posterior notopodia with hooks in addition to capillaries...................................................... 13 12(11) Single pair of branchiae on chaetiger 1. Peristomium forming distinct hood enveloping prostomium ventrally and laterally. Dorsal transverse ridge on chaetiger 2. Ventral crests absent............................................ Streblospio - Four pairs of branchiae on chaetigers 2–5. Peristomium not forming hood around prostomium. Dorsal transverse ridge absent on chaetiger 2. Ventral crests from chaetiger 2..................................................... Laubieriellus 13(11) Prostomium conical with narrow and rounded tip anteriorly. Occipital antenna present or absent on prostomium. Nuchal organs absent......................................................................................... Aonides - Prostomium broadly rounded to truncate anteriorly. Occipital antenna absent on prostomium. Nuchal organs present...... 14 14(13) Branchiae from chaetiger 3 (2–3 pairs)............................................................... Aurospio - Branchiae from chaetiger 2 (4–13 pairs)............................................................ Prionospio 15(2) Chaetiger 5 with heavy falcate or aristate spines in neuropodia and only capillaries in notopodia............... Atherospio - Chaetiger 5 with heavy falcate spines in notopodia and only capillaries in neuropodia.............................. 16 16(15) Hooks in neuropodia from chaetiger 8; upper part of hook shaft with constriction, lower part of hook shaft bent at about right angle. Branchiae from chaetiger 7............................................................. Pseudopolydora - Hooks in neuropodia from chaetiger 7; upper part of hook shaft with or without constriction, lower part of hook shaft slightly curved. Branchiae from chaetigers 2–10................................................................... 17 17(16) Branchiae from chaetiger 2 (from chaetiger 7 in early juveniles)................................................ 18 – Branchiae from chaetigers 7–10 in all-size individuals....................................................... 19 18(17) Notopodia of chaetiger 5 with heavy falcate spines alternating with bilimbate-tipped companion chaetae....... Boccardiella - Notopodia of chaetiger 5 with heavy falcate spines and brush-topped spines................................ Boccardia 19(17) Chaetiger 1 with notochaetae. Branchiae from chaetigers 7–10. Hooks accompanied by inferior capillaries at least in anterior neuropodia; upper part of hook shaft without constriction.............................................. Dipolydora - Chaetiger 1 without notochaetae. Branchiae from chaetiger 7. Hooks not accompanied by inferior capillaries; upper part of hook shaft with constriction...................................................................... Polydora