Verrucapelma retusa is a scale worm known from northern Australia, the Timor Sea and the Coral Sea from shallow water to depths of about 20 m.Hanley, J.R. & Burke, M. (1991) Polychaeta Polynoidae: Scaleworms of the Chesterfield Island and Fairway Reefs, Coral Sea. In: A. Crosnier (ed.), Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Volume 8. Mémoires du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Série A, Zoologie 151, 9–82.
Description Verrucapelma retusa is a short-bodied worm with 35–36 segments and 15 pairs of elytra which bear a marginal fringe of papillae. The dorsum is covered with bands of brown-grey, which becomes fainter posteriorly. Lateral antennae are positioned beneath (ventral) on the prostomium. the notochaetae are about as thick as the neurochaetae. Neurochaetae with bidentate tips are also present.
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