Bristle Worm - Eupolymnia nebulosa

Characteristics:

The rounded, soft and fragile body may reach a length of 15 cm and a diameter of approximately 1 cm. It consists of 100-200 segments. The white spots are a typical feature for this species, but safe identification from pictures alone can be difficult or even impossible. The posterior end of the body tends to roll up in a spiral. In the other end (anterior) there are two pairs of branched gills. Often only the long tentacles are visible outside its crevice.

Habitat:

It is registered from the sublittoral zone and down to 500 meters. It is not choosy on substrate, you may encounter it in mud, sand or on hard-bottom locations.

Distribution:

This is bristle worm is well known worldwide. It is registered in the North-East Atlantic, Mediterranean, around South America, Australia, in the Indian Ocean as well as the Pacific.