Flabelligera affinis M. Sars, 1829

Synonyms:
Siphonostoma vaginiferum Rathke, 1843
Chloraema edwardsi Oersted, 1844
Flabelligera claparedii de Saint-Joseph,1898
Flabelligera diplochaitos var. affinis Haase, 1915

Distinguishing characteristics
Body short and spindle-shaped, encased in clear mucus.
Epidermal papillae on a long, flexible stalk.
First chaetiger with 60-120 long chaetae.
Characteristic hooked compound chaetae in neuropodia from chaetiger 25.

Species description
Body short and spindle-shaped, encased in clear mucus, often stained with mud. Epidermal papillae on a long, flexible stalk. Prostomium and peristomium retractile, with two groups of 20-30 delicate cirriform branchiae, 4 eyes and 2 broad palps. The first chaetiger with 60-120 long chaetae. Notopodia with fine capillary chaetae surrounded by longer papillae. From chaetiger 25 neuropodia with 1-2 hooked compound chaetae with an annulated stalk and a short, curved, blunt-ended tip of darker colour. Each surrounded by a bundle of 5-6 short, straight capillary chaetae of which only the point protrudes from the skin.

Size
Up to 60 mm for 50 segments.

Color
Greenish, with green gills and yellow to orange palps. Gut red.

Habitat
At low water, under stones and amongst algae; young specimens often amongst the spines of echinoids.

Mobility

Feeding
Surface deposit feeder.
Facultative suspension feeder.

Life cycle

Distribution
North Sea to Öresund, world-wide.