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Cossura Webster And Benedict 1887
Type species: Cossura longocirrata Webster and Benedict 1887
Diagnosis of Cossura : Prostomium conical without appendages, without eyes; peristomium achaetigerous, usually subdivided at least dorsally by a transverse furrow. Single branchial filament arising mid-dorsally on chaetiger 2,3,4, or 5. Chaetiger one uniramous, thereafter chaetigers biramous; chaetal lobes rarely present. A variable number of narrow anterior chaetigers with chaetal fascicles at anterior chaetal borders; grading thereafter into longer, often beaded chaetigers with chaetal fascicles emerging at midlength. Anterior chaetae hirsute capillaries; from midbody chaetae fewer and less hirsute, always several per fascicle unless thickened chaetae or short spines present. Pygidium with three anal cirri, which may be branched; intercirral perianal processes may be present.
Source: Modified after Read, G. B. 2000: Taxonomy and distribution of a new Cossura species (Annelida: Polychaeta: Cossuridae) from New Zealand. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 113: 1096-1110.
Remarks: Read (2000) added Cossurella as a junior synonym. Heterocossura was already a synonym.
Go to Family Cossuridae.
Data last edited 12/07/2003 (dd/mm/yy), and page last generated by G. Read, 9/08/2004 (dd/mm/yy)