Eunicidae
| Eunicidae Temporal range: Ordovician–recent | |
|---|---|
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| Eunice aphroditois | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Polychaeta |
| Subclass: | Palpata |
| Order: | Eunicida |
| Family: | Eunicidae |
| Genera | |
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The Eunicidae are 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 m.[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]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fauchald, K. (1992). "A review of the genus Eunice (Polychaeta: Eunicidae) based upon type material" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology (523): 1–422.
- ↑ Keith Davey (2000). "Eunice aphroditois". Life on Australian Seashores. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
- ↑ Weast, Steve. "The Great Worm Incident". Oregon, USA. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ↑ "Giant Sea Worm Unmasked as Coral Killer". Newquay, UK. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
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