Oweniids [Oweniidae]

Description

Oweniidae is the sole family within the order Oweniida, consisting of marine worms known for their distinctive burrowing lifestyle. Members of this family are characterized by elongated bodies with a trunk divided into a thorax and abdomen, lacking parapodia but equipped with numerous chaetae (bristle-like structures) for movement and feeding. They inhabit tubes made from secreted mucus and sediment particles, which they construct in soft marine sediments. These worms are detritivores, feeding on organic particles they filter from their surroundings. Their distribution is global, found in various marine environments from shallow waters to the deep sea. The family includes genera such as Owenia, which is well-studied due to its ecological role in sediment stabilization and as an indicator of environmental health.

Genera

Taxonomy