Description: This terebellid is 150-230 mm in length and is a yellowish-brown, yellow or fawn colour. The body is made up of 90-100 segments, and there are 24-25 chaetigers with notopodial bristles. There are three pairs of red, branching bush-like gills. Neuropods (lobes used for locomotion on ventral side) are short, swollen ridges throughout the body.

Habitat: In a simple tube in mud or muddy sand, or within mud filled rock crevices. Occasionally found in kelp holdfasts.

Distribution: Scattered records from all coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: There are several other terebellids that can all be easily confused without experience identifying polychaetes. This could be confused with a number of terebellids, especially Amphitrite edwardsi, however if only has 17 chaetigers, while A. figulus has 24-25. Also superficially resembles the Eupolymnia spp., however closer inspection should allow them to be distinguished.

Key Identification Features:

• 150-230 mm length.
• Yellow to brown or fawn colour.
• 3 pairs of branching gills.
• 24-27 chaetigers.
• Neuropods short, swollen ridges throughout body.

Distribution Map from NBN: Amphitrite figulus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Amphitrite figulus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Amphitrite figulus

WoRMS: Amphitrite figulus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Amphitrite figulus (Dalyell, 1853). AphiaID: 155162.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Annelida; Polychaeta; Sedentaria; Canalipalpata; Terebellida; Terebelliformia; Terebellidae; Terebellinae; Terebellini; Amphitrite