Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Spiralia
Cladus: Lophotrochozoa
Phylum: Annelida
Classis: Polychaeta
Subclassis: Palpata
Ordo: Canalipalpata
Subordo: Sabellida
Familia: Oweniidae
Genera: Galathowenia - Mitraria - Myriochele - Myrioglobula - Myriowenia - Owenia
Name
Oweniidae Rioja, 1917
Oweniidae is a family of marine polychaete worms in the suborder Sabellida. The worms live in tubes made of sand and are selective filter feeders,[1] detritivores and grazers.[2]
Characteristics
Members of this family live in tubes made of sand and shell fragments. The head of the worm does not bear a proboscis, but has the mouth at the tip rimmed by some very short tentacles. The body segments lack parapodia and are smooth elongated cylinders. There are a large number of hooked chaetae or bristles on a small pad on the ventral side of each segment. These chaetae have two parallel teeth resembling claws which is a feature that distinguishes members of this family from other polychaetes. The posterior tip bears different appendages in different genera. Family members are unique in having a bell-shaped larval stage known as a mitraria larva. At one time the family was classified as the Ammocharidae.[1]
Genera
Galathowenia Kirkegaard, 1959
Myriochele Malmgren, 1867
Myriowenia Hartman, 1960
Owenia Delle Chiaje, 1844[2]
References
NIWA Guide to Polychaeta
World Register of Marine Species
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