Nephtys caeca is a sand worm of the Phylum Annelida. It is found in the mid to low intertidal zone where it actively burrows and moves in a peristaltic manner through the sand. The worm is composed of up to 150 segments, and is natural to tan (orange in some places) in color with a reddish line extending mid-ventrally. N. caeca feeds on other polychaetes and crustaceans by everting its large, muscular proboscis. The sand worm can grow up to 25 cm in length and approximately 10mm in width. The animal is easily identified by its obvious parapodia, which are paired on each segment (with the exception of the prostomium and the parapodium). A lack of eyes gives the worm its name: caeca is the Latin term for blind.

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Created by Kate C. VanHoomissen