Description:-

Body thick, abdomen tapering towards pygidium. Prostomium with a pair of prominent glandular ridges and many eyespot. Branchiae in two well separated groups. Fourth branchiae of each group arranged in two tranverse rows in a rhomboid pattern. Paleae very large, 8-22 on each side. 17 thoracic segments with notopodia with capillary chatae, the posterior 14 also with neuropodia with uncini, 15 abdominal uncinigerous segments. Pygidium with two long lateral cirri. Tube- a thin layer of secretion incrusted with a thick, relatively firm layer of mud or clay usually with plant fragments in characteristic ring like patterns Worm size reaches up to 55mm long. When alive they are yellowish or pink, branchiae greenish, body and branchiae with numerous light red and brown spots, on the branchiae giving the appearance of coloured rings. They are sedentary, surface deposit feeder. Breeding takes place during summer.

Threats:-

Remark:-

Habitat:-

Many types of sediment, ranging from pure silt to coarse sand including all types of mixed bottoms. Vertical distribution upper sublittoral to about 5000m. salinity range euhaline to mesohaline. Species tolerant to excess organic matter enrichment. These species may occur under normal conditions, but their populations are stimulated by organic enrichment (slight unbalance situations).

Synonyms:-

Amphicteis curvipalea Claparède, 1870
Amphicteis groenlandica Grube, 1860
Amphicteis gunneri japonica McIntosh, 1885
Amphicteis japonica McIntosh, 1885
Amphitrite gunneri Sars, 1835
Crossostoma midas Gosse, 1855

References:-

WoRMS (2014).Amphicteis gunneri (M. Sars, 1835). In: Read, G.; Fauchald, K. (Ed.) (2014) World Polychaeta database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=129784 on 2015­01­22

http://www.iopan.gda.pl/projects/Polychaeta/list/AmpGun.html