Marine Species Identification Portal : Autolytus longeferiens

Saint-Joseph, 1887

Description:
Prostomium rounded with four eyes with lenses, paired eyes often in contact with each other. Palps hardly visible dorsally, with a median groove. Median antenna much longer than lateral ones. Lateral antennae at least up to 5x as long as prostomium.
Dorsal tentacular cirri about as long as lateral antennae, ventral much shorter. Dorsal cirri of first segment, as long as lateral antenna. Size of dorsal cirri of second segment shorter than dorsal tentacular cirri. All other dorsal cirri regularly alternating shorter or longer, longest normally shorter than segment width, shorter ones only half that size. Blades of compound chaetae bidentate, secondary tooth of equal size as terminal tooth. Pharynx very long and with many twists. Trepan with 9-10 larger teeth separated by 2-4 small teeth (A. longeferiens-detail).

Size:
Body up to 20 mm long for 88 segments.

Colour:
Body yellowish to brownish or dark orange-coloured, anterior segments with 3 lateral lines. Tips of anterior appendages red or orange-coloured.

Habitat:
Between stones and shells. 0-60 m depth.

Distribution:
Skagerrak, Northeast Atlantic between Ireland and Spain, Mediterranean, English Channel up to Straight of Dover.

Remark:
Some authors believe this species to be synonymous with Autolytus alexandri , but there seem to be differences, as indicated in the picture key.

Autolytus longeferiens