Uncinais uncinata (Orsted)
Recognition
Dorsal hair chaetae are absent.
There are 2 to 4 sigmoid, bifid chaetae per dorsal bundle starting on
segment 5 or usually on 6. Older individuals have eyes.
The ventral chaetae number 2 to 7, with those on segment 2 elongate.
Eyes and coelomocytes are present.
There are anterior dark bands like Ophidonais serpentina, which has
only dorsal single, straight, simple pointed, rod-like dorsal chaetae or
sometimes none at all.
Summary
The length is 5 to 18 mm.
It lives in sediment with the anterior end protruding.
Distribution
It is a widespread holarctic species.
26 MAY 1996 D.L. Gustafson
AIM home page
dlg@rivers.oscs.montana.edu