Familia Typhloscolecidae

Uljanin, 1878

Worms highly specialized, with fusiform and transparent body. Prostomium indistinct from the rest of the body and projected forward into a small papilla. Without eyes, with well developed nuchal organs which often form free posterior projections. Pygidium with a pair of flattened anal cirri.
These worms have been considered to be ectoparasites of gelatinous animals, such as chaetognaths and medusae. The characteristic suction apparatus that replaces the proboscis may indicate that they are semi-parasites (Uschakov, 1972). Feigenbaum (1979) has regarded the possibility that typhloscolecids are predators of chaetognaths.

In addition to the species treated, Støp-Bowitz (1991, 1992) recorded only one specimen of Travisiopsis lumbricoides Reibisch, 1895 (Travisiopsis lumbricoides 2) in the tropical waters (10 m depth) of the Gulf of Guinea. (Travisiopsis lumbricoides map).

Genus Sagitella Wagner, 1872
Sagitella kowalewskii

Genus Travisiopsis Levinsen, 1885
Travisiopsis coniceps
Travisiopsis dubia
Travisiopsis lanceolata
Travisiopsis levinseni
Travisiopsis lobifera

Genus Typhloscolex Busch, 1851
Typhloscolex mulleri

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