Marine Species Identification Portal : Eulalia viridis

(Linnaeus, 1767)

Description:
Body stout, anteriorly and posteriorly tapered. Prostomium rounded triangular, about as long as wide. Median antenna situated well in front of eyes, of same size as paired antennae. Eyes medium-sized, occasionally partly covered by segment 1. Proboscis widest distally, covered with diffusely distributed rounded papillae. Terminal ring with 12-30 papillae. Segment 1 with tentacular cirri reaching segment 2-3. Dorsal tentacular cirri of segments 2 and 3 reaching about segment 7. Ventral tentacular cirri reaching about segments 3-4, often thick and slightly flattened. Chaetae usually present from segment 3, in juveniles one or two chaetae may occur on segment 2. Dorsal cirri of median segments lanceolate, 21/4-3 times as long as broad. Parapodial lobes rounded, with varying number of chaetae. Ventral cirri oval, slightly longer than parapodial lobes (E. viridis-parapodium). Pygidial cirri three or four times as long as wide.

Size:
Up to 85 mm.

Colour:
Living animals yellowish green. Large specimens usually darker. Dark spots may be present on dorsal and ventral sides of parapodial bases. Preserved animals dark yellow to brown.

Habitat:
A common intertidal species on rocky shores. May also be found subtidally on rocky bottoms and in shell gravel, to 150 m.

Distribution:
West coasts of Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Norway, The Faeroes, Iceland and Disko Island. Reported from all over the northern hemisphere.

Eulalia viridis