Haplotaxoididae Martin, Fend, Martinsson, Klinth, Torii & Erséus, 2024, fam. nov.

Haplotaxoididae fam. nov. (clade 3 in Fig. 1) ZooBank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C439AB3E-4C5B-46AD-83BD-11603F48A3D3 Type genus: Haplotaxoides Fend gen. nov. Diagnosis As for type genus. Remarks The new family closely resembles members of Haplotaxidae in general habitus. Although the narrow-elongate body form, thick integumental cuticle, and the unpaired chaetae (with enlarged ventrals) all closely resemble those of Haplotaxis, differences in pharyngeal musculature, ventral glands, coelomocytes, and position of the (metagynous) ovaries suggest a separate family on morphological grounds. The establishment of the new family is also justified with molecular data, as all species of the genus Haplotaxoides are grouped together in a clade with maximal support, distinctly separate from Haplotaxidae s.s. within the phylogeny of Clitellata (Fig. 1).