Galathowenia fragilis (Nilson & Holthe, 1985)

Synonyms:
Myriochele fragilis Nilsen & Holthe, 1985

Distinguishing characteristics
Head region long, without eye-spots or pigment bands.
Tube long, slightly tapering towards hind end, foraminiferans, sponge spicules, and sand grains not firmly cemented and not arranged in a recognizable pattern.

Species description
Body long, slender and cylindrical. Head region long, without eye-spots or pigment bands, collar usually high. Thorax with 3 chaetigers. Up to 22 abdominal segments. Notopodia in all segments with only spinous capillary chaetae. Posterior notopodia with few but very long chaetae. Tori shorter than those of G. oculata and with fewer uncini. Uncini with 1 upper and 1 lower teeth. Pygidium with 5-6 lobes. Tube long, slightly tapering towards hind end, front end conical. Secreted layer fragile, encrusted with foraminiferans, sponge spicules, and sand grains. Foreign object not firmly cemented and not arranged in a recognizable pattern.

Size
Up to 30 mm for 25 segments.

Color

Habitat
Sundy and muddy bottom, from 800 to 2600 m.

Mobility

Feeding
Surface deposit feeder, interface grazer.
Facultative suspension feeder.

Life cycle

Distribution
Norwegian Sea, Arctic Sea, eastern Meditterianean Sea (4159-4260 m).