Some commensal polynoids, living in close association with gorgonian and stylasterid corals, are referred to a new genus,
Gorgoniapolynoe including
Polynoe caeciliae Fauvel,
Harmothoe corralophila Day,
Polynoe uschakovi Britayev, and five new species (
G. bayeri,
G. cairnsi,
G. galapagensis,
G. muzikae,
G. pelagica). The polynoids invade the corals, resulting in galls and tunnels for the passage of the worms. The anterior few elytral pairs of the polynoids are modified. An additional bathypelagic polynoid from off Bermuda (North Atlantic Ocean), showing the same type of modified elytra, is also included as a new species in the genus.