Mesnil, 1896
Description:
Prostomium anteriorly deeply incised, without antenna or eyes, posteriorly with a caruncle reaching segment 3 or 4. Two long palps present.
First notopodium with thin chaetae.
Notopodial postchaetal lobes short and oval. Neuropodial postchaetal lobes rudimentary. Chaetae in anterior parapodia all capillaries.
Fifth chaetiger with dorsal chaetae 4 or 5 modified chaetae and lanceolate accessory chaetae in a row and capillary chaetae ventrally. Modified chaetae thick , with a subdistal swelling. 7th and following neuropodia with 3 or 4 bent hooded hooks with a small distal tooth and a bigger subdistal tooth. Posterior notopodia without modified chaetae or hooks.
Gills usually from chaetiger 10, rarely from 9, to about chaetiger 25.
Pygidium cylindrical, dorsally deeply incised, often with ventral and lateral incisions too.
Size:
Up to 20 mm for 100 segments.
Colour:
Yellowish, pink or colourless.
Habitat:
In lithothamnia and kelp holdfasts.
Distribution:
North Sea, North Atlantic to Mediterranean, English Channel, South Africa, Chile, Australia, New Zealand.