Eunoe leiotentaculata is a scale worm known from southern Australia and New Zealand and the South Pacific Ocean at depths of 500–1200 m.[1] Within the geographic range of Eunoe leiotentaculata, at least 100 other species of Polynoidae also occur, but only about 3 other species share these features: 41-55 segments, a pair of distinct “peaks” on the prostomium, 15 pairs of elytra which have smooth margins lacking papillae, and all the ventral chaetae taper to a simple point.

This species was originally collected in 1976 on a Russian voyage through the Tasman Sea[4] and is now known to occur at depths of 500–1300 m around the coast of southern Australia and New Zealand.

Eunoe leiotentaculata is a short-bodied worm with 45–55 segments and 15 pairs of elytra, which are coloured with a purple gradient and cover the dorsum.

The prostomium bears a pair of "peaks" on the anterior margin and the lateral antennae are inserted ventrally (beneath) to it.

[7] Morphological features can distinguish Eunoe leiotentaculata from the other members of the genus but there is no review of all species and few have DNA sequence data.