Nephtys paradoxa Malm, 1874

Synonyms:
Nephthys pansa Ehlers, 1874
Nephthys phyllobranchia McIntosh, 1885

Distinguishing characteristics
Acicular lobes obliquely rounded in notopodia, conical in neuropodia.
Interramal cirri present from setigers 5-14, fully developed equipped with lateral foliaceous lobes.

Species description
Body stout. Prostomium square to pentagonal, with straight or slightly convex anterior margin. Antennae and palps short to moderately long, conical, the palps somewhat larger. Pharynx with 22 longitudinal rows of 5 to 6 papillae. Acicular lobes obliquely rounded in notopodia, conical in neuropodia. Presetal lamellae rudimentary, postsetal lamellae simple, rounded, not longer than the acicular lobes. Interramal cirri present from setigers 5-14 (usually from setigers 8-10), small, increasing in size to setigers 25-27, then reducing after setigers 40 to become absent by setigers 55-60. Fully developed interramal cirri equipped with lateral foliaceous lobes that may be smooth or undulated along the edge. Pygidium with one analcirrus.

Size
Up to 200 mm long for 150 segments.

Color
In alcohol yellowish to whitish-grey.

Habitat
Muddy sediments, 50-800 m depth.

Mobility
Mobile.

Feeding
Carnivore.
Predator.

Life cycle

Distribution
Arctic, North Pacific, North Atlantic to Mediterranean and Black Sea, north North Sea, Skagerrak to Kattegat, Australia.