Fittkau, 1962
Body
Medium sized larvae with a length up to 7 mm. Living larvae are pink. Fringe of swimming hairs absent (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Head
The head has a length of 0.60 - 0.65 mm and a cephalic ratio of 50 - 55 (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Antenna
The antennal segments are all yellow and the antennal ratio of about 3. The ring organ is situated at 0.4 - 0.5 of the height of the first segment. The second segment distally has a U shaped process, the tuning fork Tel tuningfork (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Mentum
Dorsomentum without teeth.
Ligula and paraligula
Ligula with 5 brown teeth in a straight row. Paraligula with a long outer and a much smaller inner tooth Tel ligula paraligula (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Mandible
The mandible has a large basal tooth accompanied by a very large accessory tooth Tel mandible (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Maxilla
The maxilla is short with an undivided basal segment (Wiederholm, 1983; Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Anal tubules
4 anal tubules which are longer than wide.
Posterior parapods
All claws on posterior parapods are yellow. Three claws with small teeth on their inner margin Tel claws.
Differential characteristics
In the Pentaneurini only Xenopelopia and Telmatopelopia have a straight ligula Tel ligula paraligula and teeth on the claws of the posterior parapods Tel claws. Telmatopelopia can be easily distinguished from Xenopelopia by the yellow 2nd antennal segment (brown in Xenopelopia) and yellow claws on the posterior parapods (1 claw brown in Xenopelopia).