Marine Species Identification Portal : Ophryotrocha maculata

Åkesson, 1973

Description:
Body small and thin.
Prostomium rounded, dorsoventrally flattened, with two eyes near posterior margin. A pair of relatively long, thread-like antennae; palps are ciliated pads. Peristomium and apodous segment slightly longer than following chaetigers. Prostomium, peristomium and segments with complete rings of cilia.
Form of parapodium unknown; one acicula. Dorsal cirri present; no ventral cirri. Chaetae, which are relatively poorly known, are of four kinds: 1) 1-3 needle-like capillaries; 2) 2-4 simple, longer rod-like chaetae; 3) 7-8 compound chaetae; 4) thin capillaries. Pygidium with two thread-like cirri and a short median papilla.
Mandibles X-shaped, with forked smooth or toothed anterior margins. Maxillary carriers not described. Basal maxillae forceps-like, distally bifid in adults, with one blunt and one pointed tip (juvenile with toothed basal maxillae). Seven pairs of toothed maxillae (O. maculata-maxillae).

Size:
Up to 7.1 mm for up to 34 segments.

Colour:
Segments with a transverse row of dark brown pigment spots; large specimens often with additional rows of light red pigment spots.

Habitat:
Found on mud at 25 m.

Distribution:
Swedish west coast, Gullmar Fjord, Sweden.

Ophryotrocha maculata