Breeding occurs in March and August. The species presumably has planktonic larvae.  

 Analyses of its gut contents has shown this species to be a predator of small invertebrates (Clark, 1962; Hartmann-Schröder, 1971; Wolff, 1973; Fauchald & Jumars, 1979; Olive & Morgan, 1991).

 Nephtys cirrosa is a thin, smooth, segmented worm, up to 10 cm in length. Its head is small, with four small antennae. Nephtys cirrosa has a large proboscis, covered in prominent papillae, that it projects and uses to dig into the sediment. It is oval in cross section but, may appear flattened (when viewed from above) owing to bristled lobes (parapods) which extend from the body. It is a lustrous white colour with golden bristled parapods. Nephtys cirrosa is an active worm which demonstrates the characteristic swimming motion (a rapid lateral wriggling, starting from the rear and increasing in amplitude towards the head) of the Nephtyidae.

• The different species of Nephtyidae are difficult to identify, requiring detailed examination of the parapoda and chaetae. Reference to Rainer (1991) is recommended.
 
• Large worms are used for bait and are called 'catworms' by anglers.
 
• Nephtys cirrosa prefers cleaner and coarser sand than Nephtys hombergii.
 
• Four species of Nephtys (Nephtys caeca, Nephtys cirrosa, Nephtys hombergii and Nephtys longosetosa) occur intertidally in the British Isles, two others, Nephtys ciliata and Nephtys hystricis, are confined almost exclusively to the subtidal (Olive & Morgan, 1991).

N. cirrosa is a dominant species in the Southern Bight with high densities at the Brown Bank and near the coast. lt is furthermore common at the Dogger Bank. Only few individuals are found in the Oyster Ground. Low densities are furthermore reported from the Delta area and the western Wadden Sea.

In both periods Nephtys cirrosa was widely spread on the Belgian part of the North Sea, where the species was observed from the coastal zone to the open sea in rather large quantities and with a high frequency of occurrence. Maximum density of N. cirrosa in the 1976-1986 period was 100 ind./m2 whereas densities up to 1,000 ind./m2 were recorded in the 1994-2001 period.

Baie de la Seine, Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone, British Isles, Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone, Golfe Normanno-Breton, Greek Exclusive Economic Zone, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, North Sea, Plymouth, Portugese Exclusive Economic Zone, Roscoff, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, Wimereux

A relatively slender nephtyid polychaete of a few centimetres long and about 95 segrnents. Apart from its dimensions, N. cirrosa differs from the other Nephtys species by the absence of dorsal cirri, the serrated sculpture of the chaetae and the small size and shape of the gills. lt is yellowish white with red gills (Wolff, 1973; Sips, 1988; Hayward & Ryland, 1990; Olive & Morgan, 1991).

Medium-sized (up to 100 mm) free-living bristle worms with a flattened body. The small head bears an eversible proboscis with papillae, horny jaws and four short antennae. The species distinguishes itself from other Nephtys species by typical parapodial flaps and a branchial cirrus that, on the last parapodia, is as long as the gill.

Nephtys cirrosa is found in sediments with a median grain size of 250 to 550 µm and reaches a very high relative occurrence (> 80%). However, N. cirrosa can also be found in finer and coarser sediments. The species is observed in mud-poor sediments as well as in mud-rich sediments, but nevertheless displays a slight preference for low mud content levels (< 10%).

The distribution of N. cirrosa appears to be strongly related to the grain size of the sediment, i.e. it prefers clean, coarse to fine sandy sediments as found in the Southern Bight (Rainer, 1991).

Depth range based on 3715 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 850 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 188
  Temperature range (°C): 6.833 - 11.964
  Nitrate (umol/L): 2.055 - 12.040
  Salinity (PPS): 32.851 - 35.255
  Oxygen (ml/l): 5.996 - 6.605
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.353 - 0.825
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.091 - 7.673

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 188

Temperature range (°C): 6.833 - 11.964

Nitrate (umol/L): 2.055 - 12.040

Salinity (PPS): 32.851 - 35.255

Oxygen (ml/l): 5.996 - 6.605

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.353 - 0.825

Silicate (umol/l): 2.091 - 7.673
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 Nephtys cirrosa lives infaunally in sandy sediment in the intertidal and shallow sublittoral, where it is often abundant. It does not make a definite burrow.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1