(O.F. Müller, 1776)
Description:
Body long and strong.
Prostomium pentagonal with two antennae and two similar palps.
First segment with dorsal tentacular cirri smaller than the antennae and ventral ones a little longer than the antennae.
Parapodia: noto- and neuropodial postchaetal lamellae, simple and rounded, as long as or slightly longer than the acicular lobes. Neuropodial postchaetal lamellae, simple and much longer than the acicular lobes. Acicular lobes bilobed, only at the posterior part sometimes single, prechaetal lamellae rudimentary. Neuropodial postchaetal lamellae without vascular structures.
Cirriform gills start at segment 4 to 10; rudimentary on the last 20-30 parapodia.
Pharynx with 22 longitudinal rows of 3 to 7 papillae.
Size:
Up to 300 mm long for 140 segments.
Colour:
White, yellowish or brownish in alcohol.
Habitat:
Burrower in top level of sediments, from the eulittoral down to 950 m deep.
Distribution:
Widely distributed in the North Sea area.