Nereimyra punctata (Müller, 1776)

Synonyms:
Nereis punctata Müller, 1788
Nereis rosea O. Fabricius,1780
Castalia punctata McIntosh, 1908
Psamathe fusca Johnston,1836, in McIntosh,1908
Halimede venusta Rathke,1843

Distinguishing characteristics
Six pairs of annulated tentacular cirri.
Notopodia reduced to an acicula and a few simple chaetae.

Species description
Body rather long, tapering posteriorly. Prostomium rounded quadrangular with 4 eyes, anterior pair larger. Prostomium with 2 antennae and 2 annulated palps. Six pairs of annulated tentacular cirri on 3 segments. Parapodia subbiramous, dorsal and ventral cirri annulated. Notopodia reduced to an acicula in the cirrophore and a few simple chaetae. Neuropodia conical with additional upper and lower conical lobes. Simple dorsal chaetae capillary, smooth.

Size
Up to 25 mm.

Color
Alive yellowish with deeper transverse bands which may form dots in the posterior region.

Habitat
Found at low water, under stones, in crevices of rocks, in holdfast of algae, among oysters. On fine sand, mud, rocks, gravel with old shell and serpulid tubes.

Mobility
Mobile.

Feeding
Carnivore.

Life cycle
Reproductive period begins in early summer, the larvae becoming important in the autumn plankton.

Distribution
Arctic, Bering Sea, Iceland, Norway to western Baltic, France, Azores, Hudson Bay, off Newfoundland to off North Caroline.