Levinsenia gracilis (Tauber, 1879)

Synonyms:
Aonides gracilis Tauber, 1879
Paraonis gracilis Eliason, 1920
Tauberia gracilis Strelzov, 1973

Distinguishing characteristics
Prostomium without eyes or antenna.
Finger-like branchiae starting at chaetiger 5-8.
2-7 winged spines present on posterior neuropodia.

Species description
Body long with numerous segments. Anterior segments broader than the following ones. Prostomium broadly conical with a small papilla at the tip. Without eyes or antenna. Up to 15 pairs of finger-shaped branchiae, starting at chaetiger 5-8. Notopodial postchaetal lobes cirriform or finger-like, on the first chaetigers short, becoming longer in the branchial region, posteriorly thinner. Chaetae are capillaries. Additionally 2-7 winged spines present on neuropodia, starting at chaetiger 20-26. Pygidium conical with two cirri.

Size
Up to 25 mm.

Color
Colourless.

Habitat
Upper sublittoral to 2900 m.

Mobility

Feeding
Surface deposit feeder.

Life cycle

Distribution
North Sea to Baltic Sea. Possibly cosmopolitan.