Polychaeta name details
From editor or global species database
Diagnosis "Palpi thick, fused at base only to middle of length. Pharynx straight. Proboscis unarmed (?). Tentacles three, attenuated, more or less obviously jointed. Eyes two pairs; large. Tentacular cirri two pairs. Parapodia uniramous with setae all compound, or in the epitokous phase with long simple natatory setae in notopodia of middle region of body. Appendage of compound setae short, bidentate. Neurocirri present, thick, rounded. Notocirri on side of body above parapodia; filiform; more or less segmented. A large quadrate membrane or flap projecting from anterior edge of peristomium forward over caudal region of prostomium." [details]
Etymology The name of the genus Hesperalia is composed by the Greek prefix hesperos, meaning 'evening' or 'western', and the Latin suffix -alia, declined form of -alis, which is added to a noun to form an adjective of relationship to that noun, and refers to the geographical area where the species of the new genus were collected, the western coast of USA. [details]
Synonymy Hartman (1961: 77) synonymized the type species of Hesperalia, H. californiensis, with Odontosyllis phosphorea, with base on the following arguments: "Hesperalia californiensis Chamberlin (1919, p. 9) from Laguna Beach, California, is here considered identical [with Odontosyllis phosphorea]. It was characterized by having antennae and dorsal cirri articulated, but this is here interpreted as wrinkling due to preservation. In other respects there is complete agreement with Odontosyllis phosphorea Moore." [details]
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