General Feature

   Most Onuphidae are tubicolous. Some of them carry the tube around; others are sessile, but may be able to leave their tubes in emergencies. 

   All species appear to be scavengers and feed on both plant and animal debris floating past their tube openings; others may actively hunt for debris.

onuphidae7.jpg (118495 bytes)

  Onuphidae with tube

Prostomium

   2 short frontal antennae. 2 globular palps. 5 occipital antennae.

   Mandibles are well formed; maxillae have 4-5 pairs of toothed plates.

   Tentacular cirri present.

onuphidae2.jpg (90187 bytes)Prostomium               

 

onuphidae1.jpg (112152 bytes)Tube

                                  

Parapodia and Setae

  Anterior parapodia direct forward and have tapered ventral cirri. Posterior parapodia are smaller with cushion-like ventral cirri.

   Branchiae present and simple form.

   Setae at the first few parapodia include winged capillaries and pseudocompound form. The posterior parapodia have winged capillaries, comb-setae and acicular setae.

onuphidae(S)1.jpg (41474 bytes)The 1st parapodia

                                  (biramous & no branchiae)

 

The 6th parapodia

                    

(biramous, branchiae)

 

onuphidae(S)2.jpg (24708 bytes)

onuphidae(S)3.jpg (14431 bytes)Winged capillary setae

 

 

 

Acicular setae

onuphidae(S)5.jpg (32187 bytes)
 

Amphinomidae Dorvilleidae Eunicidae Glyceridae Goniadidae Hesionidae Lumbrineridae Nephytidae Nereidae Onuphidae Phyllodocidae Pilargiidae Polynoidae Sigalionidae

Developed by: P. L. Chan     Last modified: 4 April,00