(Müller, 1784)
Description
Body surface smooth and light. No eyes. All chaetae as bifid crotchets, the dorsal ones beginning from V. Ventral chaetae of II, 5-7 per bundle, 60-80 µm long, their upper tooth 1.5 times as long as lower one. Further rearward 2-4 chaetae both in ventral and dorsal bundles, tooth length becoming gradually equal. In mature individuals penial chaetae by 2-4, with simple bent end. Length 2-14 mm, segment number in zooids 14-17, in single individuals 13-46.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan.
Ecology
Common in salt and brackish water; seldom occurring in freshwater courses receiving saline pollution.
Reproduction
Mostly asexual, by paratomy (budding). Mature individuals and sexual reproduction rare or seasonal.
Literature
Müller, 1784: 120-123, Pl. III Figs 2-6; Sperber, 1948: 83-86, Figs 8A-D, Pl. III Fig. 1; Sperber, 1950: 55, Figs 6A-D; Brinkhurst and Jamieson, 1971: 318-319; Chekanovskaya, 1981: 249-250, Fig. 113; Kasprzak, 1981:136-137, Figs 416-421.