Salazar-Vallejo, 1998) Lysidice (Lamarck, 1818) Marphysa (Quatrefages, 1866) Nematonereis (Schmarda, 1861) Palola (Gray in Stair, 1847) Anatomy Segmented body Eunicids can contain up to 1500 segments and span from 10 mm to 6 m in length. Members of the Eunicidae family are distinguished from other families in Eunicida by having a rear segment with 1-3 antennae and no ringed bases on their antennae. The first body segment of Eunicidae is either whole or consists of two lobes. The gills of live specimens are typically identifiable by their bright red colour. Head and jaws A pair of slender and cylindrical sensory appendages are typically situated near the head of Eunicidae. The lips of Eunicidae can be either reduced or well-developed. In the Eunice species, worms have five appendages on two elongated segmented appendages and three antennae near their heads. This feature is not part of the anatomy of all genera in the Eunicidae family. Eunicidae jaws are typically well developed and partly visible on the underside of the worm or on its surface at the front of the mouth in a complex structure. Body wall Some species of Eunicidae have extensions of the body wall that loop into the vascular system. These usually consist of either comb-like or single filaments. Ecology Distribution and habitat Eunicidae are distributed in diverse benthic habitats across Oceania, Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Africa. Eunicids play an ecological role in benthic communities, exhibiting a preference for subtidal hard substrates in shallow temperate waters, tropical waters and mangrove swamps. Most species of Eunicidae inhabit cracks and crevices in assorted rubble, rock, and sand environments. In limestone or coral reefs, Eunicids burrow into hard parchment-like tube corals or remain in crevices of calcareous algae. Diet Eunicid diets vary across genera. For example, the Eunice aphroditois crawl on the seafloor where they scavenge in a carnivorous feeding pattern on marine worms, small crustaceans, molluscs, algae and detritus. Other species, for example Euniphysa tubifex and large Eunice, hunt the surrounds of their coral habitats and feed on the decaying flesh of dead sea-life. Burrowing species of Eunicidae (Lysidice and Palola) are primarily herbivores. These species feed on matured corals and contained organisms or on types of algae. The diet of Marphysa species of Eunicidae is variable, some worms are herbivores, some are carnivores and others omnivores. Threats The practice of harvesting polychaetes (including species in the Eunicidae family)