A Mitogenome-Based Phylogeny of Pilargidae (Phyllodocida, Polychaeta, Annelida) and Evaluation of the Position of Antonbruunia†
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear Authors, It was a pleasure to review your interesting, well thought out and thought-provoking ms. I have posted my comments on the pdf file. Most are fairly minor, and some ask for clarifications on certain aspects of your methods and results, but one is of more concern to me. It concerns your finding on the position of Hermundura. Firstly, why, given the low support for the position of Hermundura outside of Pilargidae, was this genus excluded from 3 loci analysis? Can you infer Group (I-IV) membership of Hermundura based on the partial mitogenome data you present? And finally, I found your morphological comparison of Hermundura with microphthalmids wanting - for example, other features of Hermundura that are not present in microophthalmids are the small (but stout) biarticulated palps and the pharynx with terminal papillae. Together with the dissimilarities that you report, make six features that distinguish the two taxa. Further, Hermundura is not the only pilargid to have a rounded pygidium (also present in some Litocorsa), so equating this feature with the anal membrane of microphthalmids (almost as an implied synapomorphy) is premature I believe (you'd need a more detailed anatomical comparison). In summary, I think its premature to move Hermundura to Microphthalmidae - without all available evidence (morphological data do not support it). The question is what to do with it? My preference would be to leave it in Pilargidae, as incertae sedis, thus acknowledging some form of contamination may have occurred (or other reasons?). But if you are confident that this did not occur, then perhaps Phyllodocida incertae sedis, would be appropriate, especially given that you acknowledge in the ms that it may not belong to Microophthalmidae (however, there is a risk of the genus becoming 'lost' if you take this path). Erecting a new family is not the best option either.
Aside from this concern, I really enjoyed the ms, and I hope to see it published soon. Best, Chris
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Dr. Glasby,
We really appreciate your comments and thank you for your time. Please see the attachment.
All the best,
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript "A Mitogenome-Based Phylogeny of Pilargidae (Phyllodocida, Polychaeta, Annelida) and Evaluation of the Position of Antonbruunia" is a very interesting contribution. This is very valuable study for the systematics of annelids in general and Pilargidae in particular. It is very well written, appropriate methods selected and applied, results well addressed and a good discussion. I think it could be published nearly as it is right now. However, I would suggest the authors checking the following recent revision they did not include, probably because it is a book chapter, whose access is not easy.
Aguado, M.T. (2022): Antonbruunidae Fauchald, 1977, In: Purschke, G., Boggemann, M. & Westheide, W. (eds.) Handbook of Zoology. Annelida Vol. 4: Pleistoannelida, Errantia II, Phyllodocida. De Gruyter, Berlin: 394–399.
This revision includes a redescription and new figures of the three up to now Antonbruunia described species that could be useful for the authors. Especially new SEM pictures of one paratype of A. viridis and new SEM pictures of A. gerdesi (not published in the original description).
I can provide the pdf if the authors don't find it.
Apart form this, I think the study is practically finished and the result is of high quality.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
We really appreciate your comments and thank you for your time. Please see the attachment.
All the best,
Authors
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThanks for the consideration of my review. I agree with your changes and look forward to seeing the paper published.
