page_title: Alitta succinea
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Alitta succinea / Description
caption_attribution_description: Alitta succinea&#160;(Frey &amp; Leuckart, 1847) English: Epitoke form of a Common clam worm from the 'Spuikom', Oostende - Belgium The animation was constructed from several still images, taken while the animal was laying writhing on the substrate.It shows the sequential movement of parapods it normally uses to propel itself through the sediment. For swimming it uses a sinuous eel-like bending of its whole body.
context_page_description: Alitta succinea is a species of marine annelid in the family Nereididae. It has been recorded throughout the North West Atlantic, as well as in the Gulf of Maine and South Africa.
context_section_description: The clam worm can reach up to 15 centimetres (6 in) in length, but most specimens are smaller than this. It is brown colored at the rear, and reddish-brown on the rest of its body. It has an identifiable head with four eyes, two sensory feelers or palps, and many tentacles. The head consists of two segments: the anterior and posterior prostomium. The last body segment is known as the pygidium.
caption: Alitta succinea in motion