The Onuphidae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

polychaete Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class (biology), class of generally marine invertebrate, marine annelid worms, common name, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that ...

worms.

Characteristics

Most onuphids have tubes. Some live semisubmerged in the substrate, but others carry their tubes around, and they can all rebuild their tubes if necessary. The tubes, thin and parchment-like, are formed of bits of shell and sand, with plant debris, stuck together with

mucus Mucus ( ) is a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is typically produced from cells found in mucous glands, although it may also originate from mixed glands, which contain both serous and mucous cells. It is ...

. The onuphids are all omnivorous

scavenger Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding b ...

s, feeding on animal and vegetable debris.Onuphidae
Marine Errant Polychaetes in Hong Kong. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
A Guide To Singapore Polychaetes. Retrieved 2012-01-16. The prostomium has two short frontal antennae, two globular palps and five main antennae. The mandibles are large and the maxillae have several pairs of plates edged with fine teeth. Some tentacular cirri are present. The anterior parapodium points forward and has tapered ventral cirri. The posterior parapodium has cushion-like cirri. The setae include winged capillaries and pseudocompound forms on the anterior parapodia and winged capillaries, comb-setae and acicular setae on the posterior ones.

Genera

The World Register of Marine Species includes these

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

in the family: *'' Americonuphis'' Fauchald, 1973 *'' Anchinothria'' Paxton, 1986 *'' Aponuphis'' Kucheruk, 1978 *''

Australonuphis ''Australonuphis'', commonly called Australian beach worms, are a genus of polychaetous annelid of the family Onuphidae that inhabit the intertidal zone of coastal beaches and are attracted to the surface by the stimulus of food. They are soug ...

'' Paxton, 1986 *'' Brevibrachium'' Paxton, 1986 *''

Diopatra ''Diopatra'' is a genus of polychaete worms in the family Onuphidae. Description Members of this genus live in thick, parchment-like tubes that project from the sediment on the seabed. The tubes are covered on the outside by fragments of shell, ...

'' Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833 *'' Dualgenys'' † *'' Epidiopatra'' Augener, 1918 *'' Fauchaldonuphis'' Paxton, 2005 *'' Hartmanonuphis'' Paxton, 1986 *'' Heptaceras'' Ehlers, 1868 *'' Hirsutonuphis'' Paxton, 1986 *'' Hyalinoecia'' Malmgren, 1867 *'' Hyalospinifera'' Kucheruk, 1979 *'' Kinbergonuphis'' Fauchald, 1982 *'' Leptoecia'' Chamberlin, 1919 *'' Longibrachium'' Paxton, 1986 *'' Mooreonuphis'' Fauchald, 1982 *'' Neonuphis'' *''

Nothria ''Nothria'' is a genus of polychaetes belonging to the family Onuphidae The Onuphidae are a family of polychaete worms. Characteristics Most onuphids have tubes. Some live semisubmerged in the substrate, but others carry their tubes around, a ...

'' Malmgren, 1866 *'' Notonuphis'' Kucheruk, 1978 *'' Onuphis'' Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833 *'' Paradiopatra'' Ehlers, 1887 *'' Parahyalinoecia'' *'' Paranorthia'' *'' Paraonuphis'' *'' Parhyalinoecia'' *'' Paronuphis'' Ehlers, 1887 *'' Paxtonia'' Budaeva & Fauchald, 2011 *'' Protodiopatra'' Budaeva & Fauchald, 2011 *'' Rhamphobrachium'' Ehlers, 1887

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1947724 Polychaetes