Developmental stage following Late nectochaete stage with the following key events: No lipid droplets visible in the gut barrel-shaped midgut filled with food. Settlement metamorphosis completed during this stage. Growth of the fourth chaetigerous segment. Lipid droplets are totally resorbed. Jaws rapidly increase in size. More teeth are added. Spinning glands develop and start to form mucus. Palpi elongate slowly. Antennae, antero-dorsal tentacular cirri and anal cirri elongate rapidly. By the end of this stage, the forth chaetigerous segment is fully formed.