Nereisculveri Webster, 1879.

https://www.marinespecies.org/polychaeta/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=181592.

Pettibone (1971); Conde-Vela (2021).

Maxillary ring of pharynx with papillae in tufts (minimal diagnosis). Dorsal notopodial ligule commences chaetiger 1; neurochaetae ventral fascicle homogomph falcigers on posterior chaetigers present (secondary diagnosis).

Palpophore barrel-shaped, approximately equal width from base to palpostyle (not overly large compared with palpostyle). Prostomium anterior margin indented; longitudinal groove present.

Jaws with dentate cutting edge.

Maxillary ring of pharynx with papillae present; in tufts. Maxillary ring paragnaths absent. Oral ring papillae present. Oral ring papillae arrangement solitary. Area V papillae absent; VI papillae present; VII-VIII papillae present or absent (may be absent in juveniles). Oral ring paragnaths absent. Papillae triangular or conical on Area VI, rounded on Areas VII-VIII.

Dorsal notopodial ligule present; commences chaetiger 1; not markedly elongate on posterior chaetigers; not markedly broader on posterior chaetigers; not markedly reduced on posterior chaetigers. Prechaetal notopodial lobe present; smaller than dorsal notopodial ligule on anterior chaetigers, usually reduced or absent posteriorly; restricted to a limited number of anterior chaetigers. Notopodial acicular process absent. Dorsal cirrus not sub-terminally attached to dorsal notopodial ligule on posterior chaetigers; not terminally attached to dorsal notopodial ligule on posterior chaetigers; not terminally attached throughout all chaetigers.

Neuropodial prechaetal lobe absent. Neuropodial postchaetal lobe present; projecting beyond end of the acicular ligule; restricted to anterior chaetigers. Ventral neuropodial ligule of anterior chaetigers present. Ventral neuropodial ligule of anterior chaetigers approx. as long as acicular neuropodial ligule. Ventral neuropodial ligule on posterior chaetigers present. Ventral neuropodial ligule on posterior chaetigers similar to length of acicular neuropodial ligule.

Notoaciculae on chaetigers 1 and 2 absent. Notochaetae: homogomph spinigers present. Neurochaetae dorsal fascicle: heterogomph spinigers absent; homogomph spinigers present; heterogomph falcigers in anterior chaetigers absent; on posterior chaetigers absent; homogomph falcigers in anterior chaetigers present, or absent; on posterior chaetigers present, or absent. Neurochaetae ventral fascicle: heterogomph spinigers absent; homogomph spinigers present; heterogomph falcigers absent; homogomph falcigers on posterior chaetigers present (with long blades).

Pygidium funnel-shaped, crenulated, or multi-incised, with ventral incision. Anal cirri cirriform or conical.

The description and diagnosis of Laeonereis here is derived from the revision of Conde-Vela (2021) which is only slightly modified from that of Pettibone (1971) who recognised a single species of Laeonereis. Simultaneously with the publication of the morphological revision of Laeonereis by Conde-Vela (2021), Sampieri et al. (2021) published a molecular study of Laeonereis (but with no morphological component) and revealed seven or nine molecular OTUs. It is tantalising that Sampieri et al. (2021) and Conde-Vela (2021) discovered very similar species-level diversity from within the same geographic range but frustrating that neither apparently was aware of the others’ research.

Currently eight species of Laeonereis are recognised, largely confined to the Atlantic coasts of North and South America; they can be identified using the key of Conde-Vela (2021).