Opheliidae

Opheliidae
	Euzonus flabelligerus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Clade:	Pleistoannelida
Clade:	Sedentaria
Infraclass:	Scolecida
Family:	Opheliidae; Malmgren, 1867

Opheliidae is a family of small, annelid worms. Some of the genera, like Armandia, Ophelina and Polyophthalmus, have lost their circular muscles.^[2] The family consist of the following genera:

The Opheliidae family of polychaete; marine annelid worms^[3], play an essential role in marine ecosystems as “deposit feeders” that aid in the recycling of nutrients and sediment mixing in muddle and sandy habitats.^[4] Due to their distinctive adaptations that include streamlined bodies and specialized muscles they can burrow in various marine environments. ^[5]

Worms in the Opheliidae family generally show characteristics of having a smooth body, a ventral (front) crease, few flaps on their sides and a pointed head to help them travel through mud and sand. Overall they specialize in burrowing and consuming sediment particles.^[6]

References

^ "Opheliidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
^ Annelida, by Greg Rouse, Fredrik Pleijel, Ekin Tilic
^ Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2024, October 8). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polychaete
^ Parapar, J., Martínez, A., & Moreira, J. (2021). On the Systematics and Biodiversity of the Opheliidae and Scalibregmatidae. Diversity (Basel), 13(2), 87-. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020087
^ Law, C. J., Dorgan, K. M., & Rouse, G. W. (2014). Relating divergence in polychaete musculature to different burrowing behaviors: A study using opheliidae (Annelida). Journal of Morphology (1931), 275(5), 548–571. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20237
^ Parapar, J., Martínez, A., & Moreira, J. (2021). On the Systematics and Biodiversity of the Opheliidae and Scalibregmatidae. Diversity (Basel), 13(2), 87-. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020087

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[1] "Opheliidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.

[2] Annelida, by Greg Rouse, Fredrik Pleijel, Ekin Tilic

[3] Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2024, October 8). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polychaete

[4] Parapar, J., Martínez, A., & Moreira, J. (2021). On the Systematics and Biodiversity of the Opheliidae and Scalibregmatidae. Diversity (Basel), 13(2), 87-. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020087

[5] Law, C. J., Dorgan, K. M., & Rouse, G. W. (2014). Relating divergence in polychaete musculature to different burrowing behaviors: A study using opheliidae (Annelida). Journal of Morphology (1931), 275(5), 548–571. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.20237

[6] Parapar, J., Martínez, A., & Moreira, J. (2021). On the Systematics and Biodiversity of the Opheliidae and Scalibregmatidae. Diversity (Basel), 13(2), 87-. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020087

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