Revision of Ilyphagus Chamberlin, 1919 (Polychaeta, Flabelligeridae)

Abstract

Ilyphagus Chamberlin, 1919 includes abyssal, fragile benthic species. Most species have large cephalic cages but chaetae are brittle and easily lost which may explain why the original definition included species with a cephalic cage or without it. The type species, I. bythincola Chamberlin, 1919, together with another species (I. pluto Chamberlin, 1919) were described as lacking a cephalic cage whereas a third species (I. ascendens Chamberlin, 1919) was described with one. To clarify this situation, all available type and non-type materials were studied. Ilyphagus is redefined to include species with digitiform bodies, abundant filiform papillae and a thin body wall; their neurochaetae are thick, anchylosed aristate spines, and all species have a cephalic cage (in the type species the presence of a cage is inferred from the remaining chaetal scars). Ilyphagus pluto, which also lacks a a cephalic cage is determined here to be a holothurian. The redefined genus contains I. bythincola (incl. I. ascendens), I. coronatus Monro, 1939, I. hirsutus Monro, 1937, and I. wyvillei (McIntosh, 1885). © Sergio I. Salazar-Vallejo.