Polycirrus arcticus Sars, 1865

Synonyms:
Leucariste albicans Malmgren, 1866

Distinguishing characteristics
Upper lip low, with 4 folds, almost completely enclosing mouth.
15-22 thoracic chaetigers, starting at segment 2.
Uncini from13th or 14th chaetiger.

Species description
Body firm, circular in cross section, usually thicker in posterior part of thorax, abdomen tapering. Tentacles numerous and moderately long, composed of thick grooved ones and thin cylindrical ones. Upper lip low, usually with 4 folds, almost completely enclosing mouth. 15-22 thoracic chaetigers. Notopodial chaetae smooth, starting at segment 2. Uncinigerous tori from the 13th or 14th chaetiger, very low, short. Tube – mud with mucus.

Size
Up to 60 mm for 55 segments.

Color
In alcohol almost white.

Habitat
Mainly on muddy bottoms. 60-1440 m.

Mobility

Feeding
Surface deposit feeder.
Facultative suspension feeder.

Life cycle

Distribution
East Greenland, Svalbard, Jan Mayen, Iceland, the Faeroes, Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea, West Greenland, Canadian Arctic, Franz Josef’s Land, Novaya Zemlya, Kara Sea, western North Atlantic.