Greeff, 1879
Description
Body relatively short and broad, up to 34 segments and a 'tail', which is missing in young individuals. Without obvious segmentation other than elongated parapodia.
Prostomium with two short, divergent antennae, two eyes with lenses and two ciliated nuchal organs. The length of cirriform appendages of the second segment is at least half the body length.
Anterior part of body with 14-21 parapodia and a 'tail' bearing 10-14 very reduced parapodia. Tail may be a third of the total body length. All parapodia with rosette organs in the tips of both branches [T.helgolandica-pp]; yellow in life, brownish in preserved specimens.
Parapodia without chaetae.
Size
Commonly 20-40 mm in length, including the tail.
Colour
Body striated with dark brown lines in life, but transparent when fixed.
Depth range
Pelagic, neritic.
Distribution in the North Sea
All North Sea, including Waddenzee, Skagerrak, Kattegat from Øresund to Bay of Kiel.
World Distribution
Coastal, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, Mediterranean Sea.
World distribution