Axiothella catenata (Malmgren, 1865)

Synonyms:
Axiothea catenata Malmgren, 1865
Axiothea catenula Verrill, 1874

Distinguishing characteristics
Head with oval cephalic plate, cephalic rim high with laterally incisions.
Palpod blunt and wide.
Pygidium funnel-shaped with cirri showing distinct variation in length, between longer ones 1 or 2 smaller.

Species description
Body long, cylindrical, head with oval cephalic plate. Cephalic rim high with laterally incisions. Palpod blunt and wide. 18 chaetigers. Notopodial capillaries smooth with narrow or broad wings. Anterior 3 segments with normal hooks on the neuropodia but in smaller numbers than the next. Four pre-pygidial achaetous segments. Pygidium funnel-shaped with cirri showing distinct variation in length, between longer ones 1 or 2 smaller. Anus terminal.

Size
Up to 105 mm.

Color

Habitat
Circalittoral of the gulf and estuary.

Mobility
Sedentary.

Feeding
Surface deposit feeder.
Grazer.

Life cycle

Distribution
Arctic – Atlantic – Pacific shelf species.