(Langerhans, 1880)
Description:
Body short with relatively few segments.
Prostomium without eyes. Nuchal organs absent. Median antenna filamentous, less than half as long as the prostomium, inserted at the anterior margin. Lateral antennae about as long as prostomium. Palps of similar shape, but twice as long, on short basal joints.
First segment much reduced, with two pairs of tentacular cirri. Tentacular cirri similar to lateral antennae, but almost twice as long. Second segment also dorsally reduced, with uniramous parapodia. Dorsal cirri of second segment a little longer than tentacular cirri. Ventral cirri present. Next segments with biramous parapodia with dorsal and ventral cirri. 30-40 notopodial chaetae, weakly bent and with two longitudinal rows of teeth. Neuropodial chaetae numerous, compound with finely toothed, bidentate blades. Also two simple neuropodial chaetae near the acicula similar in shape to notopodial chaetae, but much smaller (D. caecus-detail).
Pygidium with one small cirrus.
Size:
Up to 2 mm long for 23 segments.
Colour:
None.
Habitat:
Gravel and pebbles. Low water (30-50 m).
Distribution:
Madeira, Mediterranean, Kattegat.