Oweniidae
Oweniidae | |
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Owenia fusiformis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Annelida |
Class: | Polychaeta |
Order: | Canalipalpata |
Suborder: | Sabellida |
Family: | Oweniidae Rioja, 1917 |
Genera | |
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Oweniidae is a family of marine polychaete worms in the suborder Sabellida. The worms live in tubes made of sand and are selective filter feeders,[1] detritivores and grazers.[2]
Characteristics
Members of this family live in tubes made of sand and shell fragments. The head of the worm does not bear a proboscis but has the mouth at the tip rimmed by some very short tentacles. The body segments lack parapodium|parapodia and are smooth elongated cylinders. There are a large number of hooked chaetae or bristles on a small pad on the ventral side of each segment. These chaetae have two parallel teeth resembling claws which is a feature that distinguishes members of this family from other polychaetes. The posterior tip bears different appendages in different genera. Family members are unique in having a bell-shaped larval stage known as a mitraria larva. At one time the family was classified as the Ammocharidae.[1]
Genera
- Ammochares
- Clymenia|Clymenia (worm)|Clymenia
- Galathowenia Kirkegaard, 1959
- Mitraria|Mitraria (worm)|Mitraria
- Myriochele Malmgren, 1867
- Myrioglobula Hartman, 1967
- Myriowenia Hartman, 1960
- Ops|Ops (worm)|Ops
- Owenia|Owenia (worm)|Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1841
- Psammocollus
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oweniidae. |