Eunicidae

Eunicidae Temporal range: Ordovician–recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Eunice aphroditois
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Class:	Polychaeta
Order:	Eunicida
Family:	Eunicidae
Genera
Eunice Euniphysa Lysidice Marphysa Nematonereis Palola Paramarphysa

Eunicidae is a family of polychaetes. Many eunicids reach a considerable size. Their jaws are known from Ordovician sediments. They live throughout the seas; a few species are parasitic.

One of the most conspicuous of the eunicids is the giant, dark-purple, iridescent "Bobbit worm" (Eunice aphroditois), found at low tide under boulders on southern Australian shores. Its robust, muscular body can be as long as 2 m.

Some species of eunicids prey on coral. Individuals have been found living unnoticed in reef aquaria for long enough to grow to great size.

They have an evertible proboscis.