Large collections of Syllidae (Polychaeta) from around Australia, housed at the Australian Museum (Sydney), have been examined and identified. Australian material from the Hamburgische Zoologische Museum der Universität, Hamburg, Germany was also examined, as well as some specimens lodged in other museums. All known Australian species of the subfamily Syllinae (Syllidae) belonging to the genera
Branchiosyllis Ehlers, 1887 (9 species);
Eurysyllis Ehlers, 1864 (1 species);
Karroonsyllis San Martín & López, 2003 (1 species);
Parasphaerosyllis Monro, 1937 (1 species);
Plakosyllis Hartmann-Schröder, 1956 (1 species);
Rhopalosyllis Augener, 1913 (1 species),
Tetrapalpia n.gen. (1 species), and
Xenosyllis Marion & Bobretzky, 1875 (2 species), are described and figured. Some were examined using the Scanning Electron Microscope to illustrate characters and methods of reproduction in this subfamily. Since there are numerous genera and species of Syllinae, the results will be presented in a series of several papers treating different genera. Keys to genera of Australian Syllinae will be provided in the final paper. Keys to species level are provided for genera having more than one Australian representative. Six new species are described:
Branchiosyllis baringabooreen,
B. orbiniiformis,
B. carmenroldanae,
B. thylacine,
Xenosyllis moloch, and
X. scabroides. A new genus,
Tetrapalpia is described for the species
Opisthosyllis dorsoaciculata. The genus
Xenosyllis is described for the first time from Australia, as well as
Branchiosyllis oculata Ehlers, 1887, and
B. maculata (Imajima, 1966). A discussion of the reproduction and systematics of the subfamily is given.
