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Diurodrilidae
Natural History
The Diurodrilidae is a family of minute polychaetes which inhabit interstitial spaces in clean sandy sediments in intertidal and subtidal habitats. Diurodrilids lack jaws and presumably use their pharynx to collect small diatoms and other meiofauna.
Diversity
The family contains a single genus Diurodrilus; 6 species have been described. While no species of Diurodrilidae are currently known from Australian waters, two species have been described from New Zealand (Riser, 1984) and material has recently been collected from Queensland (R. Kristensen personal communication).
The phylogenetic relationships of Diurodrilidae to other families remains unclear (Kristensen & Eibye-Jacobsen, 1995).
Description |
Identification tips |
Natural History |
Diversity |
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Identification guide
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