A segmented king ragworm lies on a shallow-water substrate.

King Ragworm (Alitta virens) — A segmented king ragworm lies on a shallow-water substrate.

Creator: [Георгий Виноградов (Georgy Vinogradov)](https://www.inaturalist.org/users/1434599), [iNaturalist observation](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/87828874), [Wikimedia Commons file](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alitta_virens_144850830.jpg), CC BY 4.0. Licence: [CC BY 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY 4.0

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Species record

King Ragworm

Alitta virens

Explore the King Ragworm (Alitta virens) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The king ragworm is a large bristle worm of northern Atlantic waters. It burrows in sheltered muddy and sandy intertidal areas and estuaries, feeding on material in the sediment and using mucus nets to collect suspended food. It can grow to about 32 centimetres long.

Classification in this archive

  1. Kingdom: Animals
  2. Phylum: Segmented worms
  3. Class: Bristle worms
  4. Order: Phyllodocida
  5. Family: Nereididae
  6. Genus: Alitta

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat
sheltered muddy intertidal flats, sandy intertidal areas, estuaries
Selected regions
Europe, North America

Conservation status

Conservation status not recorded.

Demonstration note

  • King Ragworms can grow to about 32 centimetres long.
  • They catch food from the water using mucus nets.

More images

A king ragworm with many bristles along its segmented body.

King Ragworm (Alitta virens) — A king ragworm with many bristles along its segmented body.

Creator: [Klaus Kevin Kristensen](https://www.inaturalist.org/users/1226547), [iNaturalist observation](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109027251), [Wikimedia Commons file](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alitta_virens_183680100.jpg), CC BY 4.0. Licence: [CC BY 4.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY 4.0

View image source

Sources and attribution