Opheliidae Explained

Opheliidae is a family of small, annelid worms. Some of the genera, like Armandia, Ophelina and Polyophthalmus, have lost their circular muscles.^[1] The Opheliidae family of polychaete; marine annelid worms^[2], 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.^[3] Due to their distinctive adaptations that include streamlined bodies and specialized muscles they can burrow in various marine environments. ^[4]

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.^[5]

Genera

The family consist of the following genera:

• Ammotrypanella
• Antiobactrum
• Armandia
• Dindymenides
• Euzonus
• Kesun
• Lobochesis
• Ophelia
• Ophelina
• Polyophthalmus
• Pygophelia
• Tachytrypane
• Thoracophelia
• Travisia

Notes and References

1. https://books.google.com/books?id=gyRXEAAAQBAJ&dq=Opheliidae+such+as+Armandia+%2C+Ophelina+and+Polyophthalmus&pg=PA182 Annelida, by Greg Rouse, Fredrik Pleijel, Ekin Tilic
2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2024, October 8). Merriam-Webster.com. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polychaete
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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