| Eunicidae Temporal range: Ordovician–recent |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Polychaeta |
| Subclass: | Palpata |
| Order: | Eunicida |
| Family: | Eunicidae |
| Genera | |
Eunicidae is a family of polychaetes. Many eunicids reach a considerable size. Their jaws are known from Ordovician sediments.[1] They live throughout the seas; a few species are parasitic.[1]
One of the most conspicuous of the eunicids is the giant, dark purple, iridescent "Bobbit worm" (Eunice aphroditois), found at low tide under boulders on southern Australian shores. Its robust, muscular body can be as long as 2 metres.[2]
Some species of eunicids prey on coral. Individuals have been found living unnoticed in reef aquaria for long enough to grow to great size.[3][4]
They have an evertible proboscis.[1]