Terebellidae

Taxobox
name = Terebellidae

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Lanice conchilega" (Amphitritinae), taken out of its burrow. Note "spaghetti" tentacles on head.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Annelida
classis = Polychaeta
subclassis = Palpata
ordo = Canalipalpata
ordo = Terebellida
familia = Terebellidae
familia_authority = Grube, 1851
subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies
subdivision =4, see text

Terebellidae is a family of polychaete worms. They are surface deposit feeders, catching falling particles with numerous elongate prostomial tentacles splayed out on the sea floor. These tentacles, which are the most or only normally visible portion of the animal and are reminiscent of spaghetti, inspired the common name spaghetti worms. The remainder of the animal is in a semi-permanent burrow or permanent tube in soft substrates.

ystematics

The roughly 400 known species are divided between many dozens of genera. Most of these are assigned to 4 subfamilies. Some additional genera are of unresolved or quite basal position.

* Basal or "incertae sedis"
** Genus "Amphytrite"
** Genus "Athelepus"
** Genus "Dendrobranchus"
** Genus "Ehlersiella"
** Genus "Morgana"
** Genus "Odysseus"
** Genus "Paraeupolymnia"
** Genus "Terebellodibranchia"
** Genus "Tyira"
** Genus "Uncinochaeta"
* Subfamily Amphitritinae
* Subfamily Artacaminae
* Subfamily Polycirrinae
* Subfamily Thelepodinae

External links