Nephtys pente Rainer, 1984

Synonyms:
Nephtys zatsepini Jirkov,1986

Distinguishing characteristics
Accicular lobes in anterior and middle setigers distinctly bilobed.
Interramal cirri curved outwards, first present on setigers 5-6.

Species description
Body rather strong, tapering posteriorly. Prostomium quadrangular with two antennae and two similar palps. Palps a little larger than the antennae. Pharynx with 22 longitudinal rows of 3 to 5 papillae. First segment with dorsal and ventral tentacular cirri in size equal to the palps. The postchaetal lamellae rounded, longer than the acicular lobes in the anterior part of the body. Acicular lobes bilobed. Interramal cirri, stout to cirriform, start at segment 5 rarely at 6 almost to the posterior end, curved outwards. Pygidium with 1 analcirrus.

Size
Up to 140 mm long for 90 segments.

Color
In alcohol yellowish white. Anterior body with darkened shimmer.

Habitat
Silty sand. From shallow subtidal locations to 380 m.

Mobility
Mobile.

Feeding
Carnivore.
Predator.

Life cycle

Distribution
North-eastern Atlantic, between the North Sea and the Arctic (Greenland to the Murman coast), including the Baltic. Nehpthys pente has frequently been indicated as N. ciliata, and may have a wider distribution than indicated here.