Polydora flava

Claparède, 1870

Description:
Body slender.
Prostomium anteriorly usually deeply incised, without antenna or eyes, posteriorly with a caruncle reaching the anterior edge of the second segment. Two long palps present.
First notopodium with 2-8 small chaetae.
Notopodial postchaetal lobes, triangular, neuropodial postchaetal lobes very short and high.
Fifth chaetiger with a few lanceolate chaetae anteriorly, some modified chaetae in a row and capillary chaetae ventrally. Modified chaetae thick and blunt, weakly bent with a subdistal cavity on one side. Chaetae in anterior parapodia all capillaries. 7th and following neuropodia with 3 or 4 S-shaped hooded hooks with a small distal tooth and a bigger subdistal tooth. 8th and following notopodia with tufts of numerous fine chaetae which scarcely protrude from the surface.
Gills usually start at chaetiger 8, rarely on 7 or 9, absent on posterior segments.
Pygidium with a funnel that may be incised dorsally, ventrally and laterally.

Size:
Up to 45 mm for 150 segments.

Colour:
Yellowish, posterior part often darker.

Habitat:
In coarse sand, rock-crevices, lithothamnia and old shells.

Distribution:
Southern North Sea, English Channel, Skagerrak.

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