Grube, 1850
Description:
Long, slender worms with numerous segments, appearing even more numerous because they are further subdivided by annular constrictions. The body is rounded throughout, often red, pink, or flushed with pink anteriorly. The anterior end bears small, elongated, tapering and multiannulate prostomium at the end of which are two antennae and two similar palps; other anterior appendages and the parapodia are relatively insignificant. A living specimen will soon evert a long, thick proboscis from beneath the base of the prostomium; proboscis is armed with four jaws, each with an aeleron. Peristomium is limited to lips.
First segment similar to following ones, without tentacular cirri. Parapodia biramous with notopodia nearly as large as neuropodia. A small, globular dorsal cirrus and small, elongated ventral cirrus present. True gills absent. Chaetae compounds and variously ornamented capillaries.
Pygidium with two cirri (Glyceridae).
Glycerids are carnivores burrowing actively in clean or muddy sand. When swimming, the body is thrown into spiral undulations; they may coil up tightly when disturbed. Some species deliver a bite, which is said to resemble a bee-sting.
After: Fauchald and Rouse, 1997 and Hayward and Ryland, 1990.
For identification to species level, jump to the Picture key: Page 81: Glyceridae
The following taxa of this family occur in the region:
Genus Glycera
Glycera alba
Glycera capitata
Glycera gigantea
Glycera lapidum
Glycera rouxii
Glycera tesselata
Glycera tridactyla
Glycera unicornis