Family Oweniidae "sand worms"
Distribution: Pulau Semakau
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The Oweniid commonly known as "sand worms" is a suspension feeder which gathers floating particles with a frilly membrane around around its head. They are indirect deposit-feeders. They have no proboscis as their food are collected by their palps and carried to the prostomium.Only suitable sized particles are ingested while others are rejected at the mouth. All oweniids are tubiculous, living within tubes that consist of imbricating sand particles, shell fragments or tests of small marine organisms. Within a geographical area, each species is selective with respect to the particle size and materials used in tube construction depending on major constituents of the surrounding substratum. Tube construction seems to be related to depth, the composition of some tubes changed from sand grain in shallow areas to orbicular foraminiferan tests in abyssal areas. Oweniids are occasionally found inhabiting abandoned gastropod shells.
Species found in Singapore include:
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