- Source: Flabelligeridae
Flabelligeridae is a family of polychaete worms, known as bristle-cage worms, notable for their cephalic cage: long slender chaetae forming a fan-like arrangement surrounding the eversible (able to be turned inside-out) head. Unlike many polychaetes, they also have large, pigmented, complex eyes.
Habitat
These worms live under stones and are known to burrow into sand. They have a cosmopolitan distribution and live in a variety of marine habitats, from the deep sea to shallow coastal regions.
Subdivisions
Annenkova Salazar-Vallejo, 2012Brada Stimpson, 1854Bradabyssa Hartman, 1967Daylithos Salazar-Vallejo, 2012Diplocirrus Haase, 1915Flabegraviera Salazar-Vallejo, 2012Flabehlersia Salazar-Vallejo, 2012Flabelliderma Hartman, 1969Flabelligera Sars, 1829Flabesymbios Salazar-Vallejo, 2012Ilyphagus Chamberlin, 1919†Mazopherusa (?) Hay, 2002Pherusa Oken, 1807Piromis Kinberg, 1867Poeobius Heath, 1930Pycnoderma Grube, 1877Semiodera Chamberlin, 1919Stylarioides Delle Chiaje, 1831 (includes Coppingeria Haswell, 1892; fide Salazar-Vallejo
2011)Therochaeta Chamberlin, 1919Treadwellius Salazar-Vallejo, 2011Trophoniella Hartman, 1959 (includes Therochaetella Hartman, 1967)The first species was Amphridite plumosa, described from Norway. Flabelligerids were placed in various similar polychaete families until Saint-Joseph erected the family (under the name Flabelligeriens) in 1894.
Mazopherusa is a possible fossil example from the Carboniferous; other fossil material is only dubiously assigned to the family.