Genus Sabellaria Lamarck, 1818

Diagnosis. Operculum as long as wide, in two symmetrical lobes; distal disc flat and perpendicular to longitudinal axis; numerous opercular papillae around operculum. Outer paleae numerous, in semicircles, paleae geniculate, with flat blades and smooth lateral edges. Inner opercular paleae of various shapes, apparently in two concentric rows. Middle paleae strongly geniculate with excavated blades and smooth margins, pointing outwards; innermost paleae directed inwards. Nuchal spines, if present, as 3–6 pairs of straight spines. Neuropodia of segment 1 with one pair of conical cirri and capillary chaetae. Building organ with one triangular lobe ventrally at each side. Thoracic branchiae present. Three parathoracic segments, notochaetae alternating lanceolate and capillaries, neurochaetae similar in shape but smaller. Abdominal branchiae present on most segments, sometimes absent on posterior body (Fig. 4A) (Capa & Hutchings 2019).