The phylogenetic relationships of the benthic phyllodocid genera are estimated by a parsimony analysis based on 26 morphological characters. It is concluded that the cephalization within
Eteone has led to a reduction of segment 1 and loss of the first pair of tentacular cirri. Biramous parapodia (like in
Austrophyllum and
Notophyllum) constitute an ancestral state, which has evolved independently also within
Phyllodoce. A new subfamily, Notophyllinae, is erected, and the two additional subfamilies, Phyllodocinae and Eteoninae, are redefined. Pareteoninae is treated as a junior synonym to Phyllodocinae, and Lugiinae as a nomen dubium. A number of genera are redefined and new combinations introduced. Based on type material
Zverlinum and
Phyllouschakovius are synonymized with
Phyllodoce,
Nipponophyllum with
Notophyllym,
Vitiaziphyllum with
Eumida,
Pareteone,
Eulalia (Euphylla) and
Compsanaitis with
Paranaitis. More tentatively proposed synonymizations include
Bergstroemia with
Austrophyllum,
Prophyllodoce with
Phyllodoce, and
Pseudeulalia with
Protomystides.
Eulalia lapsus is proposed as a replacement name for
E. anoculata Fauchald, 1972, junior homonym to
E. anoculata Hartman & Fauchald, 1971, and a number of species are synonymized and new combinations introduced. A checklist of phyllodocids together with information on the location of their type specimens is included.
