PBDB Taxon

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Morphology	Ecology and taphonomy	External Literature Search	Age range and collections

Polychaeta

Taxonomy

Polychaeta was named by Grube (1850). It is extant.

It was reranked as the class Polychaeta by Martin (1904); it was misspelled as Polychaetia by Squires (1984), Squires (1987), Squires (1988), Barnes (1998), Zrzavy et al. (1998), Sepkoski (2002) and Parry et al. (2019).

It was assigned to Chaetopoda by Martin (1904); and to Annelida by Squires (1984), Squires (1987), Squires (1988), Barnes (1998), Zrzavy et al. (1998), Sepkoski (2002) and Parry et al. (2019).

Synonyms

Geophilus proavus was named by Germar (1842). It is an impression. Its type locality is Solnhofen (BSPGM Munich coll), which is in a Tithonian lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal lime mudstone in the Solnhofen Formation of Germany.

It was considered a nomen dubium by Scudder (1885).

Synonymy list

Year	Name and author
1842	Geophilus proavus Germar p. 89 figs. Pl 9, fig 9
1850	Polychaeta Grube pp. 249-364
1869	Geophilus proavus Ehlers p. 154
1904	Polychaeta Martin p. 430
1984	Polychaetia Squires p. 15
1987	Polychaeta Squires p. 19
1988	Polychaeta Squires p. 7
1998	Polychaeta Barnes
1998	Polychaeta Zrzavy et al.
2002	Polychaeta Sepkoski
2019	Polychaeta Parry et al. p. 4 fig. 4

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Rank	Name	Author
kingdom	Animalia	()
—	Bilateria
—	Eubilateria	Ax 1987
—	Protostomia
—	Spiralia

Rank	Name	Author
superphylum	Lophotrochozoa
phylum	Annelida	Lamarck 1809
class	Polychaeta	Grube 1850
class	Polychaeta	Grube 1850

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Cl. Polychaeta Grube 1850

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Subcl. Aciculata Rouse and Fauchald 1997

Or. Amphinomida Fauchald 1977

Fm. Amphinomidae Lamarck 1818

G. †Palaeocampa Meek and Worthen 1865

†Palaeocampa anthrax Meek and Worthen 1865

†Palaeocampa hystrix Thompson 1979

Invalid names: Rhaphidiophorus Thompson 1979 [synonym]

Invalid names: Euphrosinidae Williams 1852 [empty]

G. †Kenostrychus Sutton et al. 2001

†Kenostrychus clementsi Sutton et al. 2001

Or. Phyllodocida Dales 1962 [scale worm]

Fm. Aphroditidae Malmgren 1867

G. †Homaphrodite Gall and Grauvogel 1967

†Homaphrodite speciosa Gall and Grauvogel 1967

Subor. Aphroditiformia Levinsen 1883 [scale worm]

Unr. †Machaeridia

Unr. †Cuniculepadida Parry et al. 2014

Or. †Hercolepadida Dzik 1986

Or. †Lepidocoleomorpha Schallreuter 1985

G. †Plumulites Barrande 1872

Or. †Turrilepadomorpha

Invalid names: Turrilepadida Pilsbry 1916 [invalid subgroup]

Fm. Goniadidae Kinberg 1866

G. †Carbosesostris Schram 1979

†Carbosesostris megaliphagon Schram 1979

Fm. Nephtyidae Grube 1850

G. †Astreptoscolex

†Astreptoscolex anasillosus Thompson 1979

Invalid names: Acoetidae Kinberg 1856 [empty], Alciopidae Ehlers 1864 [empty], Chrysopetalidae Ehlers 1864 [empty], Eulepethidae Chamberlin 1919 [empty], Glyceridae Grube 1850 [empty], Hesionidae Grube 1850 [empty], Ichthyotomidae Eisig 1906 [empty], Iospilidae Bergström 1914 [empty], Lacydoniidae Bergström 1914 [empty], Lopadorrhynchidae Claparède 1870 [empty], Nautiliniellidae Miura and Laubier 1990 [empty], Nereididae Blainville 1818 [empty], Paralacydoniidae Pettibone 1963 [empty], Pholoidae Kinberg 1858 [empty], Phyllodocidae Orsted 1843 [empty], Pilargidae Saint-Joseph 1899 [empty], Pisionidae Ehlers 1901 [empty], Polynoidae Kinberg 1856 [empty], Pontodoridae Bergstrom 1914 [empty], Sigalionidae Kinberg 1856 [empty], Sphaerodoridae Malmgren 1867 [empty], Syllidae Grube 1850 [empty], Tomopteridae Grube 1850 [empty], Typhloscolecidae Uljanin 1878 [empty]

Invalid names: Aberrantidae Wolf 1987 [empty], Nerillidae Levinsen 1883 [empty], Spintheridae Augener 1913 [empty]

Or. Amphinomorpha

G. †Raphidiophorus

G. Arachnostega Bertling 1992

†Arachnostega gastrochaenae Bertling 1992

G. †Bundenbachochaeta Bartels and Blind 1995

G. †Caprascolex Schweitzer et al. 2005

†Caprascolex antarcticus Schweitzer et al. 2005

Or. Drilomorpha

G. †Archarenicola

G. Arenicola

G. †Ebetallites

G. †Eopolychaetus

G. †Eotrophonia

Or. Eunicemorpha

G. Aglaurides

G. †Albertaprion

G. †Anisocerasites

G. Arabella Montagu 1804

G. †Arabellites

G. †Archaeoprion

G. †Brochosogenys

G. †Delosites

G. †Diopatraites

G. Dorvillea

G. Drilonereis

G. †Elleriprion

G. Eunice

G. †Euryprion

G. †Falkosites

G. †Gotlandites

G. †Hadoprion

G. Halla

G. †Hindenites

G. †Hindeoprion

G. †Lanceolatites

G. †Langeites

G. Lumbriconereis

G. †Lumbriconereites Ehlers 1869

†Lumbriconereites deperditus Ehlers 1869

G. †Lysaretides

G. †Marlenites

G. †Marphysaites

G. †Microdactylophora

G. †Multiprion

G. †Nereidavus

G. †Nothrites

G. Notocirrus

G. †Oblongiprion

G. Onuphis

G. Ophryotrocha

G. †Orthopelta

G. †Ottawella

G. †Oxyprion

G. †Palaeodactylophora

G. †Palaeopelyx

G. †Paleononites

G. †Palurites

G. †Paragnathites

G. †Pernerites

G. †Pistoprion

G. †Polychaetaspis

G. †Praelumbrinereis

G. †Processoprion

G. †Protarabellites

G. †Rhamphegenys

G. †Rhytiprion

G. Schistomeringos

G. †Sciotoprion

G. †Serratula

G. †Skalenoprion

G. †Staurocephalites

G. †Symmetroprion

G. †Tetraprion

G. †Trentonia

G. †Trianguligenys

G. †Uncinogenys

G. †Xanioprion

Or. Eunicida Ushakov 1955

Fm. †Atraktoprionidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Boreognathus Shcherbakov et al. 2022

†Boreognathus pogorevichi Shcherbakov et al. 2022

Superfm. †Eunicea

G. †Kozlowskiprion Kielan- Jaworowska 1966

Fm. †Paulinitidae Lange 1947

G. †Kettnerites Zebera 1935

G. †Gilsonicaris van Straelen 1943

†Gilsonicaris rhenanus van Straelen 1943

Fm. †Kalloprionidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Kalloprion Kielan-Jaworowska 1962

†Kalloprion kilmisteri Eriksson 2006

Fm. Lumbrinereidae Malmgren 1867

G. †Phiops Schram 1979

†Phiops aciculorum Schram 1979

G. †Lunoprionella Eisenack 1975

Fm. †Mochtyellidae Mochtyellidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Mochtyella Kielan-Jaworowska 1961

†Mochtyella cristata Kielan-Jaworowska 1961

G. †Vistulella Kielan-Jaworowska 1961

Fm. †Polychaetaspidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Oenonites Hinde 1879

†Oenonites eichwaldi Eriksson 1997

†Oenonites jennyensis Eriksson 1997

†Oenonites olavi Eriksson 1997

†Oenonites wejstorpi Eriksson 1997

†Oenonites zappae Eriksson 1997

Fm. †Polychaeturidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Polychaetura Kozlowski 1956

†Polychaetura gracilis Kozlowski 1956

G. †Pteropelta

Fm. †Ramphoprionidae Kielan-Jaworowska 1966

G. †Pararamphoprion Mannil and Zaslavskaja 1985

G. †Ramphoprion Kielan-Jaworowska 1962

Invalid names: Diurodrilidae Kristensen and Niilonen 1982 [empty], Dorvilleidae Chamberlin 1919 [empty], Eunicidae Berthold 1827 [empty], Hartmaniellidae Imajima 1977 [empty], Histriobdellidae Claus and Moquin-Tandon 1884 [empty], Lumbrineridae Schmarda 1861 [empty], Oenonidae Kinberg 1865 [empty], Onuphidae Kinberg 1865 [empty]

G. †Haileyia

G. †Hammatopsis

G. †Hesionites

G. †Hirudopsis

G. †Khemisina

G. †Klakesia

Fm. †Leodicidae Treadwell 1921

G. †Eunicites Ehlers 1868

†Eunicites atavus Ehlers 1869

†Eunicites avitus Ehlers 1869

†Eunicites dentatus Ehlers 1869

†Eunicites triasicus Gall and Grauvogel 1967

G. †Lockportia

G. †Maucheria Broili 1928

†Maucheria gemuendensis Broili 1928

G. †Microtubus

G. †Nawnites

G. †Oliveirania

G. †Onuphionella Kiryanov 1968

†Onuphionella agglutinata Kirjanov 1968

†Onuphionella claytonensis Signor and McMenamin 1988

†Onuphionella durhami Signor and McMenamin 1988

G. †Palaeotubus Sanfilippo et al. 2016

†Palaeotubus sosiensis Sanfilippo et al. 2016

Fm. †Phragmochaetidae Conway Morris and Peel 2008

G. †Phragmochaeta Conway Morris and Peel 2008

†Phragmochaeta canicularis Conway Morris and Peel 2008

Or. Phyllodocemorpha

G. †Arites

G. †Didontogaster

G. †Dinoscolites

G. †Dryptoscolex

G. †Eotomopteris

G. †Esconites

G. †Fastuoscolex

G. †Fossundecima

G. Glycera

G. †Glycerites

G. Goniada

G. †Hystriciola

G. †Ildraites

G. †Levisettius

G. †Melanoraphia

G. †Ottawina

G. †Palaeoaphrodite

G. †Palaeochaeta

G. †Paleonereites

G. †Paradrilonereigenys

G. †Paraglycerites

G. †Paranereites

G. †Pieckonia

G. †Praeglycera

G. †Pronereites

G. †Protonympha

G. †Rutellifrons

G. †Siphonostomites

G. †Stauronereisites

G. †Sthenelaites

G. †Thalenessites

G. †Triadonereis Mayer 1954

G. †Ungulites

G. †Pontobdellopsis

G. †Propolynoe

G. †Ramesses Schram 1979

†Ramesses magnus Schram 1979

G. †Ruedemannella

G. †Sarcionata

G. †Schizoproboscina

Infraor. Scolecida Rouse and Fauchald 1997

Invalid names: Arenicolidae Johnston 1835 [empty], Capitellidae Grube 1862 [empty], Cossuridae Day 1963 [empty], Maldanidae Malmgren 1867 [empty], Opheliidae Malmgren 1867 [empty], Orbiniidae Hartman 1942 [empty], Paraonidae Cerruti 1909 [empty], Questidae Hartman 1966 [empty], Scalibregmatidae Malmgren 1867 [empty]

Or. Serpulimorpha

G. †Asterosalpinx

G. †Bipygmaeus

G. †Camptosalpinx

G. Cementula

G. †Chaetosalpinx

G. Circeis

G. †Clavulites

G. †Conora

G. Cubiculovinea

G. Cycloserpula Parsch 1956

G. †Diploconcha

G. †Discouvermetulus

G. †Ditrupula

G. Filogranula

G. †Flucticularia

G. Galeolaria

G. †Genicularia

G. †Gitonia

G. †Hamulus

†Hamulus angulatus Wade 1920

†Hamulus howelli Richards 1947

†Hamulus onyx Morton 1834

†Hamulus protoonyx Richards 1947

G. †Hicetes

G. †Howellitubus

G. Hydroides

G. †Iquitosia

G. Janita

G. †Jereminella

G. †Laqueoserpula

G. †Longitubus

G. Metalaeospira

G. Metavermilia

G. †Mucroserpula

G. †Muroserpula

G. Neodexiospira

G. †Neomicrorbis

G. Neovermilia

G. †Ornatoporta

G. †Orthoconorca

G. †Paliurus

G. Paralaeospira

G. †Pegmaticula

G. †Pentaditrupa

G. †Phragmosalpinx

G. Pileolaria

G. †Placostegus

G. Pomatoceros

G. †Protectoconorca

G. †Proterula

G. †Protulites

G. Protulophila

G. Salmacina

G. †Sarcinella

G. Sclerostyla

G. †Semiserpula

G. †Serpentula

G. †Serpularia

G. †Serpulites

†Serpulites indicus Waagen and Pichl 1885

G. †Serpulopsis

G. †Sinuocornu

G. Spiraserpula

G. †Streptindytes Calvin 1888

G. †Tetraserpula Parsch 1956

G. †Torlessia

G. †Vepreculina

G. Vermilia

G. Vermiliopsis

†Vermiliopsis negevensis Vinn and Wilson 2010

Fm. †Siboglinidae Caullery 1914

G. Osedax Rouse et al. 2004

Osedax frankpressi Rouse et al. 2004

Osedax rubiplumus Rouse et al. 2004

G. †Soris Schram 1979

†Soris labiosus Schram 1979

G. †Sphenothallus Hall 1847

†Sphenothallus angustifolius Hall 1847

Invalid names: Campylites Eichwald 1856 [synonym]

Or. Spiomorpha

G. Dodecaceria

G. Sabellaria

G. Spiroglyphus Daudin 1800

†Spiroglyphus capayensis Merriam and Turner 1937

†Spiroglyphus tinajasensis Hanna and Hertlein 1943

G. †Stoma

Or. Terebellomorpha

G. Amphictene

G. †Cryptosiphon

G. †Lepidenteron Mantell 1822

†Lepidenteron longissimum Fritsch 1878

G. †Paraterebella

G. Pectinaria

G. †Proterebella

G. †Psammosiphon

G. †Scolecoderma

G. †Streblosoma

G. Terebella

G. †Terebellites

G. †Terebellolites

G. †Titahia

G. †Tosalorbis

G. †Tubulelloides

G. †Tymbochoos Steele-Petrovich and Bolton 1998

Invalid names: Aeolosomatidae Beddard 1895 [empty], Flabelligerimorpha [empty], Geophilus proavus Germar 1842 [nomen dubium], Miskoa Walcott 1911 [empty], Palpata Rouse and Fauchald 1997 [empty], Parergodrilidae Reisinger 1925 [empty], Potamodrilidae [empty], Psammodrilidae Swedmark 1952 [empty], Pyllodocida Dales 1962 [empty], Sedentarida Lamarck 1818 [empty], Tubicola Glenn 1904 [empty]

Diagnosis

No diagnoses are available

Measurements

No measurements are available

Locomotion:

actively mobilec

Life habit:

epifaunalc

Diet:

detritivorec

Vision:

limitedc

Comments:

LIFE HISTORY: Surficial, fully motile slow, surface deposit/mining according to Bambach et al (2007).c

Created:

2009-09-21 12:32:22

Modified:

2010-02-16 04:15:12

Source: c = class

Reference: Bambach et al. 2007

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Ediacaran to the top of the Holocene or 635.00000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 541.0 Ma

Collections (874 total)

Time interval	Ma	Country or state	Original ID and collection number
Oldest occurrences
Ediacaran	635.0 - 541.0	USA (Nevada)	Onuphionella sp. (7180)
Terreneuvian	538.8 - 521.0	Estonia	Onuphionella agglutinata (236570)
Begadean	538.8 - 520.0	USA (California)	Onuphionella durhami (227036 227037)
Atdabanian	521.0 - 516.0	Greenland (Peary Land)	Phragmochaeta canicularis (90574)
Atdabanian	521.0 - 516.0	China (Shaanxi)	Sphenothallus sp. (57696)
Nangaoian	521.0 - 514.0	China (Guizhou)	Sphenothallus sp. (128419 128421)
Botomian	516.0 - 512.9	China (Yunnan)	Sphenothallus sp. (90370 90371)
Botomian	516.0 - 512.9	USA (Nevada)	Sphenothallus sp. (218892)
Dyeran	515.3 - 511.2	USA (Nevada)	Onuphionella claytonensis (227038) Sphenothallus sp. (96417)
Delamaran	511.2 - 506.5	Canada (British Columbia)	Polychaeta indet. C (84423 84425) Polychaeta indet. C, Polychaeta indet. B (84424) Polychaeta indet. D (84436)
Amgan	510.2 - 504.5	Czech Republic (Bohemia)	Sphenothallus kozaki (67708)
Middle Cambrian	509.0 - 497.0	Canada (Brithish Columbia)	Sphenothallus sp. (188664)
St Davids	509.0 - 497.0	Canada (British Columbia)	Polychaeta indet. (122072)
Drumian	504.5 - 500.5	USA (Utah)	Polychaeta indet. (230679)
Menevian	504.5 - 499.5	USA (Utah)	P. gen. et sp. nov. A (230681)
Tremadoc	486.5 - 477.7	United Kingdom (Scotland)	Turrilepadidae indet. (184347)
Tremadoc	486.5 - 477.7	USA (New York)	Serpulites sp. (272)
Tremadoc	486.5 - 477.7	USA (Vermont)	Serpulites sp. (277)
Tremadoc	486.5 - 477.7	Morocco	Plumulites bengtsoni (203101)
Tremadocian	485.4 - 477.7	South Korea	Sphenothallus sp., Plumulites sp. (215847 215848 215850 215851)