Terebellidae
Lanice conchilega (Amphitritinae), taken out of its burrow. Note "spaghetti" tentacles on head.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Class:	Polychaeta
Subclass:	Palpata
Order:	Terebellida
Family:	Terebellidae Grube, 1851
Subfamilies
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.

[edit] Systematics

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 Amphitrite
  • 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

[edit] External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Terebellidae

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