Onuphids are common and widespread in soft sediments. In
southern Australia the most common species in these habitats
are unidentified species of Diopatra and Kinbergonuphis, some of which remain to be described. Species referred to as beach worms on surf beaches along the east coast of Australia represent several species of Onuphis and are widely collected for fish bait. Anglers with quick reflexes catch these worms by dragging a rotting fish head across the sand in between the swash. They (the worms, that is) obviously have a well developed sense of smell.
Diversity
Recent revisions by Fauchald (1982) and Paxton (1986) have clarified generic
definitions and relationships in the family Onuphidae.
A generic revision of the Onuphidae by Paxton (1986) recognised 22 genera world wide. A total of 21 species from 6 genera are recorded from the Australian fauna by Paxton (1979, 1986, 1993, 1996).
Australian species have been described in the
genera Australonuphis, Brevibrachium, Diopatra, Hirsutonuphis and Rhamphobrachium but Australian representatives in other onuphid genera remain poorly known.
The interactive key documents the southeastern Australian onuphid fauna at
species level, based on material from subtidal sediments in inshore bays
(Port Phillip, Western Port) and the continental shelf off eastern Bass
Strait. Also included are a number of species collected from intertidal
mud flats in Port Hedland, northwestern Western Australia. Unidentified species from soft-sediment surveys in southern Australia which are included in the interactive key may be synonyms of species nominally recorded from Australian waters by Day & Hutchings (1979).
