Each species represents a new record for the Philippines. One species constructs a shallow burrow along the inner spiral of gastropod shells, similar to that of Dipolydora commensalis. Another small species is found in burrows within the coralline algae covering the shells inhabited by hermit crabs. As many as 500 specimens were found within one shell. Typically between 20-40 percent of the hermit crabs collected contained at least one polydorid within the shell.
Much work remains in the identification, description and documentation of the species collected.
The next stage of my research will include preparing specimens for examination with the scanning electron microscope and the production of line drawings with camera lucida. I thank SICB and the American Museum of Natural History for providing financial support for this research. Additionally, I would like to thank Dr. Virgilio Palpal-latoc at the National Museum of the Philippines and Dr. Filipina Sotto and Jason Young at the University of San Carlos for their help while conducting this research. This scholarship, in memory of Libbie H. Hyman, one of America's foremost invertebrate zoologists, provides assistance to students to take courses or to carry out research on invertebrates at a marine, freshwater or terrestrial field station. The Hyman grant is intended to help support a first field station experience for a first or second year graduate student or an advanced undergraduate.