While similar, the Australian species has a longer pharynx and proventricle; at the same time, blades of chaetae are present in the Australian species, with longer and upwards curved spines, which are straight in S. clavata; its pharyngeal tooth is located more anteriorly than in S. clavata.

The palps are similar in length to the prostomium or somewhat shorter, dorsally fused by a membrane, and containing a small distal notch, sometimes folded.

[1] It carries two ciliated nuchal organs between its prostomium and peristomium, the latter being similar in length to the adjacent segments.

Its anterior parapodia count with about 9–10 compound chaetae, exhibiting dorsoventral gradation in length, being 26μm above and 12–13 μm below.

Salvatoria koorineclavata shows ventral simple chaetae on the majority of posterior parapodia of some specimens.