(Pallas, 1766)

Description
At about the age of five days, the young larva (ca. 0.2 mm in length), develops a tube that is constructed of slime and detritus. In this stage, the larva begins its planktonic life, during which the larval development continues. After about 60 days, the larva has 12-14 thoracic segments with bristles; there are three long and two short tentacles; the length of the animal is then 2.25-3.00 mm, the slime tube is somewhat shorter. At this stage the larva settles vertically in the sediment to start a benthic life; the larval tube is replaced by a tube that is build up of cemented fine and coarse sand grains, foraminiferans, spines of sea urchins, etc.

Size
Larval body length up to 3 mm.

Depth range
Adult found from eulittoral to ca. 1900 m.

Distribution in the North Sea
All North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, Waddenzee.

World distribution
Northern Hemisphere.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Terebellida
Family Terebelliidae
Genus Lanice
species Lanice conchilega

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Lanice conchilega Pallas, 1766

Scientific synonyms and common names

Nereis conchilega | Pallas, 1766

Benham, W., 1896. Archiannelida, Polychaeta and Myzostomaria. In: S.F. Harmer and A.E. Shipley (eds.) The Cambridge Natural History. MacMillan and Co., Ltd. London.

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