Palps across the tree - the neuronal innervation and development of sensory head appendages in Annelida.

Polychaetes inhabit a wide variety of habitats and show a great morphological diversity. In this context, a key morphological structure for adapting to their individual lifestyles and ecological niches are the prominent head appendages. In the last years more and more studies focused on the mainly sensory annelid head appendages - namely the antennae, palps, buccal lips and cirri - to unravel the evolutionary origin and phylogeny of Annelida.

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3D-visualization has become common courtesy in science and also found its way into teaching in schools and universities. Nevertheless, the way to high performance 3D-visualization and analyses remains difficult and is often also a matter of budget. Due to the obvious advantages of presenting morphological and anatomical datasets with the help of 3D-figures, all in one software solutions usually come along with high rental and maintenance fees.

May the palps be with you - new insights into the evolutionary origin of anterior appendages in Terebelliformia (Annelida).

Background: Head appendages in Annelida contribute significantly to the immense morphological diversity in this spiralian taxon. Nevertheless, the evolutionary origin of annelid antennae, palps, cirri and tentacles are part of vast theories and debates that took place over decades. One of these heavily discussed groups are the Terebelliformia, which bear numerous anterior tentacles originating from different regions of the head.