Dendronereides heteropoda

Prostomium with entire anterior margin (but prostomium with deep median furrow). Maxillary ring of pharynx with papillae; maxillary ring 50 papillae in total (or more, in a band 4–5 deep); papillae solitary. Maxillary ring not divided into discrete Areas. Maxillary ring of pharynx without paragnaths. Oral ring papillae present; solitary. Area V papillae present; 3–4 papillae; VI papillae present; 3–4 papillae; VII-VIII papillae present. Oral ring paragnaths absent. Transverse dorsal lamellae absent. Dorsal cirrus not terminally attached to dorsal notopodial ligule on posterior chaetigers. Dorsal cirrus length about 1 times ventral notopodial ligule at chaetiger 10-20. Ventral cirri single. Notopodial homogomph spinigers present; sesquigomph spinigers present. Notopodial homogomph falcigers absent. Neuropodial dorsal fascicle fused falcigers absent.

Unless stated otherwise in the below description, the following character states are implicit for all Nereididae species: Maxillary ring of pharynx without papillae. Maxillary ring divided into discrete Areas. Maxillary ring of pharynx with paragnaths; paragnaths arranged in discrete areas; Areas II, III and IV paragnaths not in regular comb-like rows (but may be arranged in irregular rows). Area I minute rod-like paragnaths in a compact cluster absent; II minute rod-like paragnaths in a compact cluster absent; pectinate paragnaths absent; minute rod-like paragnaths in a compact cluster absent; pectinate paragnaths absent; minute rod-like paragnaths in a compact cluster absent; smooth bar-like paragnaths absent; pectinate paragnaths absent. Oral ring papillae absent. Ring of oral ring paragnaths present as irregular rows, not crown-shaped. Smooth bars absent; pectinate rows absent; pectinate paragnaths absent; arranged in one or more irregular lines forming a continuous band; Area VII-VIII paragnaths similar in size, or irregular mix of large and small paragnaths in a single band. Transverse dorsal lamellae absent. Dorsal notopodial ligule not markedly elongate on posterior chaetigers. Not markedly broader on posterior chaetigers. Ventral cirri single.

Distinguished from other members of the genus by: Jaws with dentate cutting edge, 10-20 fine teeth. Maxillary ring of pharynx with 50 or more papillae in a band 4-5 rows deep. Oral ring papillae arranged in discrete areas as follows: Area V, 3-4; VI, 3-4; VII-VIII, about 20 large and small ones. Dorsal notopodial ligule present. Dorsal cirrus 1 times ventral notopodial ligule at chaetiger 10-20. Ventral neuropodial ligule of anterior and posterior chaetigers.

Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean.