The Onuphidae are a family of polychaete worms.
Characteristics Most onuphids have tubes. Some live semisubmerged in the substrate, but others carry their tubes around, and they can all rebuild their tubes if necessary. The tubes, thin and parchment-like, are formed of bits of shell and sand, with plant debris, stuck together with mucus. The onuphids are all omnivorous scavengers, feeding on animal and vegetable debris.Onuphidae Marine Errant Polychaetes in Hong Kong. Retrieved 2012-01-16.Family Onuphidae A Guide To Singapore Polychaetes. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
The prostomium has two short frontal antennae, two globular palps and five main antennae. The mandibles are large and the maxillae have several pairs of plates edged with fine teeth. Some tentacular cirri are present. The anterior parapodium points forward and has tapered ventral cirri. The posterior parapodium has cushion-like cirri. The setae include winged capillaries and pseudocompound forms on the anterior parapodia and winged capillaries, comb-setae and acicular setae on the posterior ones.
Genera The World Register of Marine Species includes these genera in the family: Americonuphis Fauchald, 1973 Anchinothria Paxton, 1986 Aponuphis Kucheruk, 1978 Australonuphis Paxton, 1986 Brevibrachium Paxton, 1986 Diopatra Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833 Dualgenys † Epidiopatra Augener, 1918 Fauchaldonuphis Paxton, 2005 Hartmanonuphis Paxton, 1986 Heptaceras Ehlers, 1868 Hirsutonuphis Paxton, 1986 Hyalinoecia Malmgren, 1867 Hyalospinifera Kucheruk, 1979 Kinbergonuphis Fauchald, 1982 Leptoecia Chamberlin, 1919 Longibrachium Paxton, 1986 Mooreonuphis Fauchald, 1982 Neonuphis Nothria Malmgren, 1866 Notonuphis Kucheruk, 1978 Onuphis Audouin & Milne Edwards, 1833 Paradiopatra Ehlers, 1887 Parahyalinoecia Paranorthia Paraonuphis Parhyalinoecia Paronuphis Ehlers, 1887 Paxtonia Budaeva & Fauchald, 2011 Protodiopatra Budaeva & Fauchald, 2011 Rhamphobrachium Ehlers, 1887
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