Prionospio of Family Spionidae

Prionospio Malmgren 1867

Type species: Prionospio steenstrupi Malmgren 1867

Diagnosis of Prionospio : Prostomium with anterior margin, incised or rounded, without frontal horns, caruncle variously developed. Peristomium fused in varying amounts with chaetiger 1 often forming low lateral wings. Branchiae [cirriform] pinnate, apinnate, or both pinnate and apinnate. Branchiae present ... commencing chaetiger 2 or (rarely) 3. ...3-13 pairs ... . Anterior chaetae all capillaries, hooded hooks in posterior noto- and neuropodia; hooks bi- to multidentate, inferior sabre chaetae present [except 1 sp.]. Pygidium with 1 long medial cirrus and 2 short ventrolateral cirri or lappets.

Source: Wilson, R. H. 1990: Prionospio and Paraprionospio (Polychaeta: Spionidae) from southern Australia. Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 50: 243-274.

Remarks: [Wilson (1990) includes Aquilaspio and Minuspio, but not Apoprionospio. Blake excludes the two species with branchiae from chaetiger 3 (to Aurospio) ]

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Data last edited 12/07/2003 (dd/mm/yy), and page last generated by G. Read, 9/08/2004 (dd/mm/yy)