Sternapsidae

Sternaspsids are grublike worms often as wide as long with a conspicuous venrtal plate surrounded by bundles of chaetae. Coiled branchiae restricted to the posterior end. Specimens often coated with sediment.

Characters separating the different species are the distribution of epidemal papillae; the shape and number of proximal chaete; the number and arrangement of chaetal bundles around the ventral shield; the colour, shape and divisions of the ventral shield.

Few other polychaetes could be confused with sternapsids.