Brania pusilla

(Dujardin, 1839)

Description:
Prostomium quadrangular to semicircular with four eyes in a trapezoid arrangement. Palps as long as prostomium extending as two long lips. Median antenna longer than lateral ones. Lateral antennae flask-shaped as long as or longer than palps.
Dorsal tentacular cirri flask- or spindle-shaped, as long as median antennae, ventral shorter. Dorsal cirri not smaller at the basis, unlike in Brania limbata .
Dorsal cirri shorter than dorsal tentacular cirri. Ventral cirri short. Aciculae present with terminal button. Blades of compound chaetae of different size upper 3 times as long as lower chaetae, bidentate. Additionally one upper and one lower bidentate simple chaeta present on the middle and posterior parapodia (B. pusilla-detail). Pharynx with 8 round papillae and one anterior tooth.

Size:
Body up to 3.7 mm long for 39 segments.

Colour:
Transparent, pharynx brown.

Distribution:
Atlantic up to Mediterranean, English Channel and North Sea.

%LABEL% (%SOURCE%)