Polynoinae Kinberg 1856

Subfamily: Polynoinae Kinberg, 1856

Type genus: Harmothoe Kinberg, 1856

Type species: Harmothoe spinosa Kinberg, 1856

Diagnosis (according to Barnich & Fiege 2003): Body flattened dorsoventrally, short, up to 50 segments, more or less covered by elytra or short tail uncovered (large specimens). Elytra, 15 pairs present on segments 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 29, 32. Prostomium with distinct cephalic peaks and three antennae; lateral antennae with ceratophores inserted ventrally to the median antennae; two pairs of eyes, anterior pair dorsolaterally on widest part of prostomium or anteroventrally beneath cephalic peaks, posterior pair dorsally near hind margin of prostomium. Parapodia biramous, noto- and neuropodia with elongate acicular lobe; tips of noto- and neuroacicula penetrating epidermis; neuropodia with digitiform supra-acicular process. Notochaetae all similar, stout, with numerous rows of spines and blunt tips; neurochaetae more slender, distal region falcate with numerous rows of spines, tips bi- and unidentate. Nephridial papillae visible from segment 5 or 6 onwards.